How is loss of bladder control treated?
How is loss of bladder control treated?
Non-surgical treatments are often recommended to help treat bladder control issues. These include:
- Physical therapy and exercise
- Weight loss
- Reducing intake of alcohol and caffeine
- Electrical stimulation of the nerves that control the bladder
- Bladder retraining by going to the bathroom at set times
- Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles
- Bladder control device inserted into vagina that repositions urethra to reduce leakage
- Biofeedback to help patients learn to control the bladder muscles
Depending on the type of leakage and how bothersome it is—and if patients do not respond to the non-surgical treatments—surgery and other interventions can be very successful. In most cases, they can be done as an outpatient procedure.