Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Arizona
Urinary incontinence involves the unintentional loss of urine from the bladder. According to the National Association for Continence (NAFC), 33 million people in the US report urinary incontinence, and many experts believe nearly 80% of them are women. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 women have missed work due to incontinence. (NAFC, 2025)
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence can be both distressing and disruptive, but it can be managed with compassionate care. At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, we understand the sensitive and personal nature of concerns related to bladder leakage. Our experienced team can guide you through a range of advanced treatment options tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle.
Whether you’re dealing with light leaks during physical activity or more frequent episodes, AZGYN can help you restore control and confidence.
What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Unintentional urine leakage due to a loss of bladder control is defined as urinary incontinence and can range from the occasional dribble to sudden and uncontrollable urges to urinate.
Stress incontinence and urge incontinence are some of the most common types of urinary incontinence we treat:
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when an increase in abdominal pressure, especially during a sneeze or a cough, places too much stress on weakened pelvic floor muscles, causing urine leakage.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence involves an extremely strong urge to urinate that occurs suddenly, often due to conditions like an overactive bladder.
Mixed Incontinence
Mixed incontinence is very common, and involves a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
The skilled providers at AZGYN have advanced experience treating stress urinary incontinence caused by pressure on the bladder resulting from activities such as coughing, lifting heavy items, or exercising. When this happens, the pressure overcomes existing women’s health issues like weakened pelvic muscles or a compromised urinary sphincter. While stress urinary incontinence is most prevalent in women who have given birth or gone through menopause, we recognize that any woman can experience this issue.
Urge incontinence often co-occurs with an overactive bladder, which causes the sudden or intense need to urinate, followed by involuntary leakage. Our patients experiencing mixed incontinence may have both sudden urges to urinate and pressure-based urinary leakage. While urge and mixed incontinence diagnoses can be more complex to identify and treat, our compassionate team can help you get to the root of your incontinence issue
Regardless of your diagnosis, urinary incontinence can significantly impact your daily life. Many of our patients find that they avoid certain social activities, exercise, and even travel due to a fear of unexpected leakage. Incontinence can also cause feelings of embarrassment and impact your self-esteem.
Fortunately, there are treatments that can help, and Arizona Gynecology Consultants is dedicated to helping you regain the control you need to live with confidence.
Causes and Risk Factors
Some of the most common causes of urinary incontinence in women are also health issues that most or all women face, including:
- Menopause and Aging - As you age, your body produces less estrogen, and your muscle tone decreases, causing the pelvic muscles to weaken. In fact, the Mayo Clinic reports that almost 50% of women over the age of 50 have dealt with some degree of incontinence, a number that climbs to 75% of women over 65. (Khalife & Anil, 2024) Mayo Clinic report
- Other Sources of Pelvic Floor Weakness - Aside from pregnancy and childbirth, chronic strain or insufficient support can also weaken the integrity of the pelvic floor muscles.
- Chronic Coughing or Constipation - Both of these conditions can increase the overall pressure placed on the abdomen, potentially causing unintentional urination.
- Obesity - Carrying extra weight on your person can also lead to added pressure on the bladder.
In addition to these more common causes of urinary incontinence, other risk factors can also play a role in a woman’s likelihood of developing the condition:
- Genetics may predispose some women to bladder control issues.
- Smoking can also cause irritation to the bladder and contribute to chronic coughing.
- A history of pelvic surgeries, such as a hysterectomy, can affect the pelvic nerve and pelvic muscle function.
Understanding these causes and risks is a key component of AZGYN’s personalized urinary incontinence treatment. After exploring your health needs, we can develop a plan to guide prevention and urinary incontinence treatment options.
Urinary Incontinence Symptoms
The first step toward getting the help you need is developing the ability to recognize the signs of urinary incontinence.
Symptoms can vary widely from woman to woman, but be aware of these common indicators:
- Loss of control during exercise, bending, or lifting
- Urine leakage when laughing, coughing, or sneezing
- A sudden and urgent need to urinate
- Frequent urination that disrupts your daily routine or sleep cycle
- Nocturia, or waking up multiple times a night to urinate
It is crucial as well to consider the frequency and severity of leakage. For example, your provider will help you differentiate whether you’re losing a few drops during physical movement or if the bladder nearly empties without warning. Some women also notice an increase in urinary tract infections or some discomfort when urinating.
Although urinary incontinence is often dismissed as normal or expected at certain ages or stages of life, help is available from our caring, compassionate team. Our experience and commitment to Arizona women’s health ensure a personalized urinary incontinence treatment plan, allowing you to live a life free from worry about unintentional urination.
Diagnosis and Evaluation
When women come to us seeking help with urinary incontinence, the first step involves making a precise and thorough diagnosis. During your initial consultation and patient evaluation, our team takes the time to listen to your concerns and gather all necessary information. We review your medical history, including any pregnancies, surgeries, and other chronic conditions you may have experienced.
You’re also given the opportunity to share your symptoms and their impact on your daily routine.
We’ll also ask questions like:
- When did you first notice the problem?
- How frequently do you have this issue?
- How has this impacted your daily life?
Our providers can then perform a physical exam to assess the integrity of the pelvic muscles and support structures. Your symptoms will determine whether a specialized bladder function test,
such as a urodynamic study, is necessary. This test can show us how well your bladder and urethra are functioning. Other standard tests can measure bladder pressure, urine flow, and the strength of your pelvic floor muscles.
A proper diagnosis is essential when treating urinary incontinence. Misdiagnosis can render treatment plans ineffective and cause you to continue to experience disruptive symptoms. That’s why our providers thoroughly and carefully evaluate each patient to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.
Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options
Urinary incontinence can be managed or even fully resolved with the right approach. Our team at AZGYN offers a comprehensive range of urinary incontinence treatment options. We begin with the least invasive option and only progress to surgical interventions when necessary.
Non-Surgical Treatment
For many women, non-surgical therapies can significantly improve or even eliminate the symptoms of urinary incontinence.
These conservative treatment options may include:
Pelvic Floor Therapy
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through Kegel exercises or other guided physical therapy can be highly effective. Pelvic floor therapists can also provide targeted exercises and feedback.
Pessary Devices
Certain types of incontinence can be treated with a pessary device, which is a small removable device inserted into the vagina to support the bladder and reduce leakage. This treatment is most effective with stress-related incontinence.
Bladder Training
Timed voiding and urge suppression techniques can help retrain your bladder to function more normally. This can reduce the urgency and frequency over time.
Medications
Certain medications may be appropriate for urge incontinence or an overactive bladder. The right medication can help relax the bladder muscle or increase the bladder’s overall capacity.
Lifestyle Changes
Simple changes, such as managing fluid intake, quitting smoking, or reducing caffeine consumption, can significantly improve bladder control. Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to improve bladder function, as it removes some of the pressure that can increase the urge to urinate.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Options
If you are not a candidate for conservative treatment options – or if non-surgical interventions don’t fully address your incontinence – it may be time to consider advanced, minimally invasive procedures that can help restore bladder control.
Urethral Bulking Agents
These injectable treatments help tighten the urethra and are often used to treat stress urinary incontinence.
Sling Procedures
The mid-urethral sling is a gold-standard surgical option for treating urinary incontinence. This incontinence surgery involves placing a synthetic mesh to support the urethra to prevent leakage.
Other Surgical Treatment
In complex cases, procedures such as bladder suspension or sacral nerve modulation may be considered. These generally only occur for patients with underlying pelvic floor disorders.
When to See a Specialist
At AZGYN, we encourage women to seek care as soon as symptoms begin to impact their daily lives. The sooner you receive a diagnosis and begin treatment, the sooner you can start feeling like yourself again.
Signs that it’s time to consult a urinary incontinence specialist include:
- Frequent urine leakage
- Urgency to urinate that disrupts your day
- Nighttime urination
- Avoiding activities due to the fear of accidents
Unfortunately, reports from the Mayo Clinic Health System show that only 25-61% of women struggling with urinary incontinence have discussed the problem with their doctor. (Khalife & Anil, 2022) While incontinence is increasingly common in women as they age, it’s essential to recognize that incontinence is not a natural part of the aging process. It is a medical condition that can be effectively treated with minimally invasive solutions.
Why Choose Arizona Gynecology Consultants?
The board-certified gynecologists and pelvic health specialists of Arizona Gynecology Consultants are proud to provide unmatched care to women experiencing urinary incontinence.
Our providers take time to listen to your concerns and goals, and consider whether you prefer a more conservative approach to treatment or advanced surgical care. This personalized approach ensures that your care plan aligns with your lifestyle and health needs.
AZGYN is a modern, welcoming environment fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology. From advanced diagnostics to minimally invasive treatments, every step of your personalized care plan is designed to maximize your comfort and outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, we understand the sensitive nature of urinary incontinence. Our experienced team of medical professionals provides compassionate and discreet care, creating a safe space where you can feel heard and supported.
Schedule a Consultation
While urinary incontinence should not be considered a natural consequence of aging, you are not alone. Our skilled team has consulted with many women like you, and early intervention can significantly improve the quality of your life.
Take the first steps toward relief and confidence by scheduling a consultation with Arizona Gynecology Consultants today. Our team can guide you through your options and help you find a treatment that suits your needs.
