Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Bladder Problems and Urinary Incontinence in Women.
Bladder problems are very common. Urinary tract infections affect many women. Around 1 in 3 women suffer from incontinence (leakage of urine) at some stage in their life.
Recurrent UTI can be a different problem and requires specialist input. Urinary problems are mostly due to either weakness of the bladder neck supports or to overactivity of the bladder muscle itself.
When the bladder neck is weak women suffer from Stress Incontinence on coughing and sneezing but also on any physical activity. If the muscle is overactive then women report symptoms of urgency and frequency and urinary leakage associated with urgency.
Bladder problems can be extremely embarrassing and have a major impact on a woman’s life. Women are therefore often understandably reluctant to discuss these problems with a doctor. We offer a sympathetic approach to this sensitive and upsetting problem. There is also sensitive advice available at the Bladder and Bowel Foundation. The management of bladder problems starts with a careful consultation and gentle examination. Sometimes we ask women to complete a ‘bladder diary’ in addition to urine testing.
Sometimes it may be necessary to perform a urodynamics test (a test to assess bladder functioning) or cystoscopy (a camera to check the inside of the bladder) to determine the exact nature of the problem.
Depending on the diagnosis, bladder problems can often improve with simple lifestyle changes and targeted pelvic floor exercises.
We can arrange expert Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy and also recommend other conservative measures such as medication.
If these do not help it may be necessary to consider a surgical option for treating Stress Incontinence.
Mr Barnick has been performing Bulkamid injections since the technique was first introduced in 2006. This technique has recently become much more popular again because of complications with tapes and slings. It involves injecting a Hydrogel at 3-4 sites around the mid-urethra. This helps the urethra to stay closed during stress. 3 out of 4 women report that their symptoms are improved by this treatment. It only takes 15 minutes can be performed as a day case and does not seem to have any long term complications.
Colposuspension was the Gold standard treatment for stress incontinence for many years until Tapes took over this mantle in the early 2000's. Now that tapes have fallen into disrepute there is a resurgence in this technique. Mr Barnick has been performing this operation both open and laparoscopically for over 25 years. It is a particularly good choice in women who also have a degree of anterior vaginal wall prolapse.
Botox injections into the bladder can be used to treat intractable urgency and urge incontinence. About 1 in 10 women will temporarily need to catheterise following the procedure. Injections need to repeated every 3-6 months.
If you are suffering from an embarrassing bladder problem, you do not need to put up with it. Come and see us and we will listen to you and carefully assess the exact nature of your problem before working through a solution that is suitable for you.
