Continence Center
The Continence Center at Urology Associates is dedicated to treating patients with bladder and specific pelvic region issues. Our highly trained and dedicated staff is committed to helping patients identify and manage bladder and continence issues and partners with their care team to create a custom treatment plan.
CONDITIONS
These are just some of the conditions we treat in our Continence Center:
- Bladder leaks (especially when exercising, coughing/sneezing, etc.)
- Changes in urgency (are you having trouble making it to the bathroom)
- Changes in frequency (how often you’re going)
- Nocturia (an increase in how much you’re needing to urinate during the night)
- Incomplete bladder emptying (feeling like you aren’t able to completely empty your bladder)
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Frequent UTIs
TREATMENTS and TESTS
These are some of the treatments and tests performed in our Continence Center:
Bladder Installation: procedure used to treat inflammation of the bladder wall and lining, commonly called cystitis, it involves filling the bladder with a solution and holding it for a period of time, up to 15 minutes
Bladder Training: Bladder Training is timed voiding where the patient gradually lengthen the time between trips to the bathroom. It helps increase the amount of urine the bladder is able to hold and may improve control over urinary urgency.
Botulinum Toxin Injection: Botox works by stopping the bladder wall muscle from contracting too much which can help prevent you from leaking urine and feeling a constant need to urinate.
Cystoscopy: This is a minimally-invasive way to be able to look into the bladder. Which allows our physicians to diagnose issues that cannot be seen on imaging or from a urine test.
Pessary Fittings: A pessary is a device placed into the vagina to support the uterus, bladder or rectum. A pessary may help decrease urinary leakage and comes in many different shapes and sizes. Our providers will help find one that is right for you.
Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation Therapy: This is a treatment for overactive bladder that involves stimulating a nerve near the ankle (the tibial nerve), because it communicates directly with the nerves responsible for bladder control. We perform this therapy in our center using an acupuncture needle hooked up to a temporary electrical stimulator. The treatment lasts for 30 minutes and is repeated once a week for 12 weeks.
Urodynamics Study: a group of diagnostic tests performed to evaluate the function of the lower urinary tract which includes the bladder, sphincters, and urethra. It aides in the diagnosis and treatment of common urological conditions and is the best way to assess function.
Parts of a Urodynamics Study
Uroflow: A test to measure the amount of time, volume, and flow during urination.
CMG (Cystometrogram): a test used to assess the activity and function of the bladder as it is being filled with fluid.
EMG: to assess electrical activity of the muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor.
LPP: studies the pressure at which urine leaks from the bladder, helps us understand why the leak is occurring.
Voiding Pressure Study: used to assess bladder pressure and flow rate during urination.