Incontinence Specialist

Incontinence is common in women, but not a normal part of the aging process. Richard Roberts, MD, is a highly skilled obstetrician and gynecologist at OB/GYN Associates of Conroe in Conroe, Texas, who specializes in diagnosing and treating incontinence. Dr. Roberts offers numerous treatment options to help you regain control over your bladder. To get help with your incontinence, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is incontinence?

Incontinence is the lack of control over your bladder or bowel. Urinary incontinence is common in women and usually develops because of stretching of the pelvic floor muscles and support structure from pregnancy, childbirth, and aging.

Any involuntary urine loss, whether it’s a drip after a sneeze or the entire contents of your bladder, counts as urinary incontinence. Urine leakage happens to almost all women in some way. 

What are the types of urinary incontinence?

There are many types of urinary incontinence. The types most common in women include:

Stress incontinence

If you lose small amounts of urine when you cough, sneeze, or laugh you have stress incontinence. This is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women and occurs from stress or pressure on the bladder.

Urge incontinence

With urge incontinence, or overactive bladder (OAB), you have a sudden and severe need to urinate and may leak urine if you fail to get to the bathroom on time. The sudden urge and loss of bladder control occurs because of involuntary bladder contractions.

Overflow incontinence

Overflow incontinence occurs when you leak urine because your bladder is too full. 

Women can have stress and urge incontinence, which is called mixed incontinence.

What happens during an incontinence evaluation?

Dr. Roberts conducts a thorough history and physical examination when you visit OB/GYN Associates of Conroe with concerns about incontinence. He asks detailed questions about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life.

He also asks about your usual diet and medications, which may play a role in your urinary incontinence. Dr. Roberts performs various tests, including urinalysis, blood test, and pelvic floor muscle contraction test.

Dr. Roberts also completes a cystoscopy, which is a test that allows him to look inside your urethra and bladder and measure your bladder’s filling pressure — cystometrogram. This measurement helps him diagnose irritable and unstable bladder contractions.

He also measures urethral pressure to assess closing pressure weakness.

What are some of the treatment options for incontinence?

Dr. Roberts customizes your incontinence treatment plan based on the type of incontinence you have and the severity of your symptoms. Treatment options for incontinence include:

• Medications to relax the bladder
• Pelvic floor muscle strengthening
• Estrogen and pseudoephedrine therapy
• Antidepressants
• Vaginal pessary
• Biofeedback and electrostimulation
• Urethral sling incontinence surgery
• Bladder lift and repair

Taking a collaborative approach to care, Dr. Roberts talks to you about your incontinence and treatment options and works with you to develop a plan that best fits your needs.

To regain control over your bladder, call OB/GYN Associates of Conroe or schedule an appointment online today.