Urinary Incontinence

Fact: Currently the adult diaper industry is a 9 billion dollar industry! In Japan, adult diaper sales have outsold baby diaper sales since 2013, and that’s likely because they’ve normalized it in the media. 

In the US, no one really talks about it and many of our elderly end up buying the wrong products, not seeking treatment and suffering in silence. No one wants to talk about it because they are too embarrassed. Heck, most GYN’s will just refer the patient to a Urogynecologist, where there are basically two options: try this med and if you’re lucky it will work and if you're not lucky then hopefully you're a surgical candidate and I can do a major surgery to fix something that you might have been able to prevent had you been educated in time. 

So why is this common problem silent? Again people are embarrassed. But, If you’ve had one child… you could have this, and the kid doesn't even need to have been that big!

The Pelvic Floor holds up all the contents of our pelvis. For women that includes all the abdominal organs and in particular the uterus. Pelvic Floor health is key to a healthy sexual life for all people, men and women. The pelvic floor muscles are particularly challenged during pregnancy and labor. Increased pressure on the pelvic floor, and abdominal muscles during pregnancy may result in laxity in all muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor and may cause this very problem and possibly even more issues than just this. Add that to the fact that our tissues are aging with time, it is no wonder why 25-45% of women in the US suffer from Urinary Incontinence today. 

So what can be done (that doesn’t involve surgery)? 

Well, pelvic PT is an amazing field that I wish we as OBGYN’s new more about… but I get that delivering babies is taxing enough :). My experience with Pelvic PT is personal, and I am intrigued at just how much they know! Their focus is on helping women strengthen and gain a sense of awareness that is not natural for most. They help with many issues and this one in particular is a big one. In addition to pelvic pt, there are laser and radiofrequency procedures that may be done in order to help with these symptoms as well. At PURR we have the Juliet laser that helps with this. Contact us to schedule a consultation for this treatment if you are interested. 

No one wants to think about a future in diapers. Without any effort it may be inevitable… if we are lucky to live so long :), but if you could do something to prevent it, then it is worth thinking about, and possibly even doing something about it. 

If you are interested in the Juliet laser procedure as a means to treat or prevent urinary incontinence check out my blog entitled Vaginal Rejuvenation. 

purrhealth.com/blog/juliet-vaginal-rejuvenation-and-laser-labiaplasty