Urinary Incontinence

Helping You Find Relief from Urinary Incontinence 

Your bladder health is an important part of personal wellness. Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control resulting in leakage of urine. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) urologists offer the latest in effective treatment options for this fairly common yet bothersome condition.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

There are different types of urinary incontinence. It is important for you to receive an accurate diagnosis so you can receive the most effective treatment. The different types of incontinence include the following: 

• Stress incontinence: leaking when coughing or sneezing 
• Urge incontinence, or urinary urgency: being unable to reach the bathroom on time 
• Overflow incontinence: being unable to completely empty your bladder, so the overflow leaks due to bladder retention 
• Mixed incontinence: a combination of more than one of the above types

Diagnosing Urinary Incontinence

Your urologist may use one or more of the following tests to diagnose your urinary incontinence: 

• Blood test: checks for kidney problems that could be contributing to incontinence 
• Cystoscopy: use of a long, thin instrument to closely examine the urethra and bladder 
• Neurologic exam: checks how well the nerves of the pelvic area are working 
• Pelvic exam: may be part of the diagnostic process for females 
• Urine test: checks for blood, signs of infection or other abnormalities 
• Urodynamic studies: checks how your bladder and urethra (tube through which urine exits the body) are working 

Urinary Incontinence Treatments

Treatment will depend on the type and severity of urinary incontinence and other factors. Your urologist will likely start by suggesting lifestyle changes or medications. If these are not enough to control your urinary incontinence, we offer the latest non-surgical and surgical options:

• Botox bladder injection 
• Urethral sling for male and female incontinence: supports and lifts your urethra and the neck of your bladder to reduce leaking 
• Sacral neuromodulation (InterStim): implanted incontinence device that sends electrical signals to the nerves of the bladder to reduce incontinence 

We are experienced in providing specialized care of incontinence related to neurological conditions.