Incontinence is a condition that causes unintended leakage of urine. Thomas Bickley, DO and Eericca Bickley, DO of Arizona Women’s Health Partners can determine the cause of urinary incontinence and provide patients with effective treatment options for this condition. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas and Dr. Eericca, patients should contact Arizona Women’s Health Partners in Mesa, AZ and serving Gilbert, AZ.
When a patient suffers from incontinence, she isn’t able to control the flow of urine completely. She may leak urine only occasionally, or she may be unable to make it to the bathroom in time on a regular basis.
Incontinence can have many different causes. One of the most common causes of incontinence is weakness in the pelvic floor. These muscles are responsible for controlling the flow of urine from the bladder. Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles is common after pregnancy, especially with vaginal childbirth. Menopause, age, and obesity may also contribute to weakness in this area.
Aside from a weak pelvic floor, some of the other common causes of incontinence include:
Some of the symptoms of incontinence may include:
Dr. Thomas and Dr. Eericca can usually diagnose a patient with incontinence based on the patient’s description of her symptoms. To determine the cause of incontinence, the doctor may ask questions about the patient’s medical history, perform a physical exam, and order tests to investigate the issue further. Tests used to determine the cause of incontinence may include urinalysis, cystoscopy, post-void residual measurements, pelvic ultrasound, and urodynamic testing.
The treatments Dr. Thomas or Dr. Eericca will recommend for urinary incontinence depend on the factors contributing to the patient’s condition. For example, if the doctor determines that the patient has incontinence because of weak muscles in the pelvic floor, they may recommend Kegel exercises. Scheduled trips to the toilet, double voiding, and bladder training may also be beneficial to patients with this condition. In other cases, medical devices, medication, or surgery may be recommended.
In many cases, more than one treatment will be available to the patient. The doctor will explain each available treatment option in detail to help patients make the right decision.
*We accept the majority of health insurance plans. Please call our office if you do not see yours listed or have any other questions. Please note to check with your insurance or call the office to make certain that we are on your specific insurance plan as they are constantly changing.*
