When Should My Teen Begin Seeing a Gynecologist?
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I'm Embarrassed About My Incontinence
Urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine, can be an embarrassing health problem to have. However, urinary incontinence affects more people than you might realize, especially among women, and especially as you get older.
No matter your age, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges provides full gynecological care for her patients at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, including urinary incontinence support. Dr. Bridges treats new and existing patients from her locations in Odessa and Midland, Texas.
Dr. Bridges understands the unique treatment needs of women. Her years of experience as an OB/GYN inform her knowledge of the way that your urinary and reproductive systems can interact in life events like pregnancy or menopause, common causal factors in female urinary incontinence.
With her care, you can effectively address urinary incontinence, and stop worrying about leaks or surprise runs to the bathroom.
Breaking the silence around incontinence
Female urinary incontinence occurs when women can’t maintain complete or consistent bladder control, resulting in leakage. You might experience symptoms like abnormal urinary urgency, abnormal urinary frequency, or problems with urination at night.
Alternatively, you might find that leakage occurs when you cough, laugh, or sneeze, a type of urinary incontinence known as stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
All of these symptoms can result in some embarrassing situations! Symptoms of urinary incontinence can also significantly reduce your quality of life. It’s worth seeking treatment from a gynecologist, rather than suffering in silence.
Understanding female urinary incontinence
The urinary system is one area of the body where male and female anatomy differ. Both men and women’s urinary systems also interact with reproductive biology. That means that urinary system care is a basic part of your gynecology needs. Dr. Bridges checks up on her patients’ urinary wellness at regular well-woman checks, and can advise you on incontinence issues.
Some factors in your medical history increase your risk of dealing with incontinence. A history of diabetes can be a problem, as can past gynecological surgeries or past prolapse. Many women also find that incontinence occurs more as they get older and lose muscle tone around the pelvic floor.
Your urinary incontinence could also be a symptom of a current, treatable medical issue. Incontinence can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI), and may be treatable with antibiotics. Or, your incontinence could be related to diuretic medications or other intakes that increase your overall urinary production. It could be as simple as quitting coffee!
Seeking help for your incontinence
As with so many other of life’s problems, the first step in addressing your incontinence is reaching out. When you seek help from Dr. Bridges, she offers compassionate and knowledgeable support. Dr. Bridges can help you to better understand the unique causes of your incontinence problems.
Dr. Bridges starts your care with a physical exam, and reviews your medical history. Then, she can recommend the right therapies, changes, or treatments to restore your quality of life and save you embarrassment and discomfort. Medication management, physical therapy exercises, and even surgical procedures may be part of your incontinence treatment plan.
For discreet, effective treatment for female incontinence, contact Dr. Bridges at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online, or give us a call today.
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