Table of Contents

What is urinary Incontinence?
What causes urinary incontinence?
What are the types of urinary incontinence?
What are my treatment options for urinary incontinence?
The most effective treatment for urinary incontinence

What is urinary incontinence?

When you pee your pants while coughing, laughing, sneezing, running, or simply standing in line at the grocery store–you’re experiencing urinary incontinence. The challenge of bladder control is not uncommon, but can be quite awkward. The spectrum of severity varies from occasional leakage during a cough or sneeze to the urgency of needing to urinate so suddenly and intensely that reaching a toilet becomes a race against time.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence may result from daily habits, underlying medical issues, or physical problems. A comprehensive assessment by our providers can help identify the specific cause of your incontinence. Women typically experience urinary incontinence in two primary ways.

● Temporary urinary incontinence
● Persistent urinary incontinence
‍
Temporary incontinence may occur due to the consumption of specific beverages, foods, or medications that act as stimulants, prompting your bladder to empty more frequently and producing an unusually large volume of urine. Some of these items include:

● Alcohol
● Caffeine
● Carbonated drinks
● Artificial sweeteners
● Chocolate
● Chili peppers
● Spicy, sugary, or citrus/acidic foods
● Heart and blood medications
● Sedatives and muscle relaxants
● Large quantities of vitamin C

Persistent urinary incontinence may result from the following:

● Pregnancy
● Childbirth
● Changes with age
● Menopause
● Neurological disorders

What are the types of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a prevalent issue that manifests in various forms, with individuals experiencing occasional minor leaks to more frequent and moderate amounts of urine loss.

There are several types of urinary incontinence. Stress and urge incontinence are the two that we often discuss with women, but there are more that we will discuss here.

Stress Incontinence:

Description: Stress incontinence occurs when pressure is exerted on the bladder during activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting heavy objects.
Example: Imagine a scenario where a woman involuntarily leaks urine while laughing heartily at a friend's joke. This is a classic manifestation of stress incontinence.

Urge Incontinence:

Description: With urge incontinence, individuals experience a sudden and intense urge to urinate, often followed by an involuntary loss of urine. This condition may lead to frequent urination, even disrupting sleep patterns.
Example: Picture a woman suddenly feeling the urgent need to urinate during a crucial business meeting, resulting in an unexpected and uncontrollable loss of urine.

Overflow Incontinence:

Description: Overflow incontinence entails frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that fails to empty completely.
Example: Envision a scenario where a woman experiences continuous dribbling of urine due to an inability to fully empty her bladder, causing discomfort and inconvenience because her underwear are always a little wet or pee drips down her leg when she stands up from the toilet.

Functional Incontinence:

Description: Functional incontinence arises when physical or mental impairments hinder an individual from reaching the toilet on time.
Example: Consider a situation where a woman with severe arthritis struggles to unbutton her pants swiftly, leading to an inability to make it to the toilet on time.

Mixed Incontinence:

Description: Mixed incontinence is characterized by experiencing more than one type of urinary incontinence simultaneously. This often involves a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

What are my treatment options for urinary incontinence?

How to naturally treat (or cure) urinary incontinence:

● Pelvic Floor Exercises
● Fluid Management (NOT recommended)
● Lifestyle Changes
● Bladder Training

‍Healthy habits to help with urinary incontinence:
‍
● Lose weight
● Eat more fiber
● Decrease added sugar intake
● Quit smoking

‍Medications to treat urinary incontinence?

There are over 20 prescription medications available to treat urinary incontinence. Several of the medications can cause your body to be dehydrated or make you drowsy. At Epiphany Women’s Health, we do not recommend the use of medications for urinary incontinence. There is a far more effective treatment option that does not involve the risk or symptoms that can be caused by medication taken for urinary incontinence.

Devices used to treat urinary incontinence in women:

● Vaginal Pessary
● Urethral Inserts

‍Surgery and procedures to treat urinary incontinence:

● Sling Procedure
● Injectable Bulking Agents
● Retropubic Colposuspension
● Inflatable Artificial Sphincter‍

The most effective way to treat urinary incontinence

The most effective way to treat urinary incontinence: The O-Shot® (Platelet-Rich Plasma injection) for urinary incontinence

‍Traditionally, surgical procedures were common for managing stress incontinence, but the O-Shot® offers an alternative approach. Developed over a decade ago, the O-Shot® involves injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from the woman's own blood back into her body. PRP, containing highly active growth factors, stimulates cell and tissue regeneration, benefiting the area around the urethra (pee tube).

How the O-Shot® works:
Platelet-rich plasma is obtained by separating blood into plasma, platelets, and red blood cells. A centrifuge (spinning device) is used to separate the blood. The plasma and platelets are removed from the tube and used in the injection. The injection, administered near the urethra (pee tube), prompts the bone marrow to create new blood vessels and tissues. Over several days, weeks, and months, this new tissue develops, potentially treating urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is caused by weakening tissue around the urethra. If your muscles, ligaments, and tissues that support the bladder have lost strength or tension, the bladder and urethra are unsupported, leading to leakage.

The O-Shot® helps create fresh, revitalized tissue that supports the bladder and urethra. This gives women better control and helps reduce urinary incontinence.

FAQs About O-Shot®:

‍Is the O-Shot® FDA approved? 
Procedures are not approved or disapproved by the FDA. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) monitors the safety of foods and drugs produced in the United States. 

Since the O-Shot® is neither a food nor a drug the FDA is not involved, in the same way, that hysterectomies, c-sections, and PRP injections for sports-related injuries are not “approved by the FDA”. With that in mind, the procedure itself is not FDA-approved, but the kits used for the O-Shot® contain FDA-approved components.

‍Can anyone administer the O-Shot®? 
No. Proper training and certification are required to administer the O-Shot® safely. Every provider at Epiphany Women’s Health is certified to administer the O-Shot®. You can verify this by visiting the Cellular Medicine Association.

Next Steps

If you find it uncomfortable to talk about incontinence, remember that more than 50% of women are struggling with urinary incontinence. You’re not alone. When you’re at Epiphany Women’s Health, you’re in a judgment-free zone. We are conveniently located in Peoria, IL, and we are here to get you back on top of your game and living your best life. No more peeing your pants!

If you’re ready to take the first step toward treating urinary incontinence, please call us, or book an appointment online.