Treatments for Incontinence and OAB

Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments, depending on the type, severity, and cause of your condition:

Behavioral techniques can help you strengthen the muscles around your bladder and help you recognize when you may be at risk of leaking, so you can prevent or avoid an accident.

• Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that support the pelvic organs, including the bladder and urethra. Kegels are easy to do, and they don't take much time, but it's important to do them correctly. You may be referred to a physiotherapist who can teach you how to do them.
• Biofeedback shows you what's happening inside your body so you can learn to control your muscles in order to prevent leaks. A common technique for incontinence and overactive bladder is to use electronic sensors and a monitor to see exactly what your bladder muscles are up to. As you watch your muscles respond on the screen, you'll be able to train yourself to make them contract or relax -- until you're back in control.
• Bladder training helps you avoid accidents by teaching you to recognize when to go to the bathroom. You'll start by charting when you void and leak -- this will help identify triggers or patterns. Using that information, you can plan bathroom breaks ahead of when you would otherwise leak.
  
  

  Other bladder training tips: Use the toilet 20 to 30 minutes after each meal, at least twice between meals, and before you go to bed. Set a timer to remind you, if you think that would help. Adjust your schedule as you learn the frequency that best meets your needs.

It may take several weeks of behavioral treatments before you notice an improvement, so don't give up!

Medication can help treat some types of incontinence and overactive bladder. However, some of the drugs may cause side effects, such as dry mouth, eye problems, headache, abdominal pain, constipation, or urine buildup. If your doctor recommends medication, ask about the side effects and whether there are any drugs you shouldn't be taking at the same time.

Pessaries can be helpful when pelvic muscles are lax. A pessary is a device that, when inserted into the vagina, can ease stress incontinence by supporting the pelvic organs.

Catheters are often used to reduce overflow incontinence. A catheter is a soft tube that you insert through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine. It can be used temporarily, just when you need it, or it can be used constantly, in which case the tube connects to a bag that you can attach to your leg.

If you experience pain or burning while using a catheter, tell your doctor. It could be a sign of a urinary tract infection.

Electrical stimulation of the pelvic muscles can help exercise them and make them stronger. Brief pulses of electrical stimulation may also stabilize overactive muscles.

Surgery is usually considered a last resort after all other treatments have been tried. But in some cases, when incontinence is caused by a bladder that has moved out of place, surgery may be the best option.

The most common surgeries for incontinence involve lifting and supporting the bladder -- either with sutures, tape, or a sling -- closer to its original position.