Urinary Loss

Urinary loss or incontinence has been present since the days of the Romans, B.C. David Foster, M.D., recently claimed that, "Incontinence can turn a self-confident, sexually active woman into a recluse." More than 10 million people in the United States are affected; however, despite its prevalence, urinary loss is largely a "hidden" problem. In one series of patients, one-third had postponed consulting a physician for one to five years, while one-quarter had delayed seeking treatment for more than five years. This reluctance to seek help was attributed to several factors including embarrassment, hope of spontaneous resolution, fear of surgery, and belief that incontinence was "normal" and that nothing could be done to improve the problem, when this illness may often restrict patients' activities.

The causes of urinary incontinence are multiple. Women may lose urine secondarily to:

1) Emotional conditions in which the bladder contracts spontaneously
2) Bladder infections
3) Scar tissue
4) Menopause
5) Medical Diseases
6) Injuries to the urinary tract from birth or surgery
7) A fallen bladder

Many women think a "fallen bladder" results from childbirth; however, it is in actuality due to hereditary factors.

Today, doctors can choose from a number of methods to treat this common disorder, and a woman can be reassured that 9 out of 10 patients suffering from this illness can be helped, and that "she" is worth the time and effort required to find a solution. Furthermore, many insurance carriers cover this procedure.