Urge Incontinence

A woman with the "urge" type experiences the overwhelming need to urinate, even if she just went, or feels unable to hold it long enough to reach a bathroom. It is also referred to as overactive bladder.

Treatment Options

Symptoms of urge incontinence can sometimes be successfully treated with lifestyle and behavior modifications. They include avoiding common bladder irritants such as alcohol, caffeine and spicy/acidic food. Bladder control training is a technique for gradually increasing the periods of time between urination. Scheduled urination and managing the amount one drinks can also be helpful.

Medications known as anticholinergics have been proven to reduce involuntary bladder contractions in cases of urge incontinence.

Some treatments, such as percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and sacral neuromodulation employ small devices to deliver mild electrical pulses to nerves that control the bladder.

Botox is a chemical that can paralyze muscles, which is how it decreases wrinkles. Botox injected into the bladder can help calm it. This is not as unpleasant as it sounds. Doctors use a numbing agent, and most women tolerate it well and some don't feel it at all. Studies show that 70 to 80 percent of patients benefit significantly from Botox. It is, however, a temporary fix. Botox lasts approximately nine to twelve months in most patients.

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