Over 50% of women will experience urinary incontinence by the time they’re 60 years of age. One of the more common types of urinary incontinence - overactive bladder - is characterized by an overwhelming urgency which results in uncontrolled leakage. This common condition can hold a woman prisoner in her own life. They might feel uneasy going out, have to carry a change of clothes wherever they go, and rely on pads or adult diapers just to get through their day and sleep throughout the night.

“The number one cause of incontinence is childbirth,” reports Tarek Garas, MD, a board-certified Urogynecologist and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgeon who treats patients from both the Watson Clinic Bella Vista Building and Watson Clinic Bartow Building B.

Other factors that can lead to incontinence include repetitive coughing and sneezing, certain exercises, a job that requires you to lift heavy objects. Or other activities that apply chronic pressure on the abdominal wall.

The condition is much more common than women may think, and it shouldn’t be considered a normal part of aging. A wide range of treatments are available that can help patients get their life back.

“It all starts with a nonsurgical approach which can include Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and diet modifications that exclude foods and drinks that may overly stimulate the bladder,” Dr. Garas shares.

For many people, these and other nonsurgical steps can make the condition easier to manage and a more acceptable factor of daily life. Others who don’t want to live with the condition in any capacity may opt for the latest minimally invasive surgical approach instead.

Sacral neuromodulation is a process that help patients regain permanent control over urinary and fecal incontinence issues. A very small device and lead are implanted near the sacrum at the small of a patient’s back. The device emits electrical impulses that modulate the urgency to urinate. The patient can control the intensity of these impulses based on her specific needs.

“This is the one of the most fulfilling procedures I perform,” Dr. Garas says. “The improvements my patients experience are life-changing.“

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Garas, call 863-680-7243.

For additional insights from Dr. Garas on incontinence and the most effective therapies used to treat it, tune in to Episode 7 of the Watson Clinic Health Talk podcast by visiting WatsonClinic.com/Podcast.