Urinary Incontinence Treatment in South Miami, FL
What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. It may range from occasional leakage with coughing or exercise to sudden urinary urgency that makes it difficult to reach the bathroom in time.
At South Florida Women’s Care, Dr. Lucia Gaitan and PA-C Ester Avero provide personalized evaluation and treatment for women experiencing urinary leakage, overactive bladder, and pelvic floor weakness in South Miami and surrounding areas.
Because there are different types of urinary incontinence, identifying the underlying cause is essential. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, pelvic floor rehabilitation, medications, vaginal estrogen when appropriate, nonsurgical pelvic floor therapies, or surgical treatment depending on the diagnosis and severity of symptoms.
Types of Urinary Incontinence and Treatment Options
1. Urge Incontinence and Overactive Bladder
Urge urinary incontinence is characterized by a sudden, difficult-to-control need to urinate that may lead to leakage before reaching the bathroom. Women may also experience urinary frequency or waking frequently at night to urinate.
Possible contributing factors include urinary tract infections, bladder irritation, diabetes, neurologic conditions, pelvic floor dysfunction, and hormonal changes associated with menopause.
Treatment may include:
- Bladder training and behavioral therapy
- Lifestyle and fluid-management strategies
- Medications used to treat overactive bladder
- Pelvic floor rehabilitation
- Low-dose vaginal estrogen for appropriate peri- and postmenopausal women, particularly when urinary symptoms occur with genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)
- Advanced pelvic floor therapies when appropriate
2. Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when pressure on the bladder causes leakage, commonly with coughing, sneezing, laughing, running, jumping, or exercise.
It is frequently associated with weakening of the pelvic floor following pregnancy and childbirth, although aging, menopause, pelvic surgery, chronic coughing, and other factors may contribute.
Treatment may include:
- Pelvic floor exercises and pelvic floor physical therapy
- Lifestyle changes and weight management when appropriate
- Pelvic floor neuromuscular re-education with VTone, part of the InMode EmpowerRF platform, for appropriately selected patients
- Surgical options such as sling procedures when indicated
3. Mixed Urinary Incontinence
Some women experience both stress and urge symptoms. This is known as mixed urinary incontinence.
For example, a woman may leak when coughing or exercising but also experience sudden urgency and difficulty reaching the bathroom in time.
Treatment is individualized based on which symptoms are most bothersome and may combine pelvic floor rehabilitation, bladder-directed therapies, hormonal treatment when appropriate, or other options.
4. Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder does not empty completely, resulting in frequent small leaks or dribbling.
Possible causes include neurologic conditions, medication effects, pelvic organ prolapse, or other conditions affecting normal bladder emptying.
Treatment focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying cause, and additional urologic or urogynecologic evaluation may be recommended when necessary.
5. Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence occurs when mobility, cognitive, or physical limitations prevent someone from reaching the bathroom in time.
Treatment may include improving mobility and bathroom access, supportive measures, and management of the underlying medical condition.
Urinary Symptoms During Menopause
Declining estrogen levels can affect the vagina, urethra, bladder, and surrounding tissues. These changes are part of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and may contribute to:
- Urinary urgency
- Increased urinary frequency
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Burning with urination
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort
For appropriate patients, low-dose vaginal estrogen may be an important part of treatment, particularly when urinary symptoms occur together with vaginal or vulvar symptoms of menopause.
EmpowerRF and Pelvic Floor Treatment
South Florida Women’s Care offers the InMode EmpowerRF platform, including VTone, as a nonsurgical option for selected women with pelvic floor weakness and urinary incontinence.
VTone uses intravaginal electrical muscle stimulation to provide neuromuscular re-education of weakened pelvic floor muscles and may be used in appropriate patients with stress, urge, or mixed urinary incontinence.
Not every type of urinary leakage is treated the same way, so treatment begins with identifying the cause and selecting the most appropriate therapy.
Personalized Urinary Incontinence Treatment in South Miami
Urinary leakage is common, but it should not automatically be accepted as a normal part of childbirth, aging, or menopause.
At South Florida Women’s Care, treatment is personalized according to the type of urinary incontinence, pelvic floor function, hormonal factors, and the impact symptoms are having on your daily life.
If you are experiencing bladder leakage, urinary urgency, frequent urination, or pelvic floor weakness, schedule an evaluation with Lucia Gaitan, MD, FACOG, and the team at South Florida Women’s Care.
We welcome patients from South Miami, Pinecrest, Kendall, Coral Gables, and throughout the greater Miami area.
Medically reviewed by Lucia Gaitan, MD, FACOG
Board-Certified OB/GYN & Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon