Overflow Incontinence
You probably know that urinary incontinence is a condition in which you can’t control your bladder as well as you used to. But you may not realize that there are different types of urinary incontinence with different causes and treatments.
One type of urinary incontinence is known as overflow incontinence. When this happens, you may leak urine from your bladder frequently throughout the day and night.
At Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, Susan Crockett, MD, and our all-female team of highly trained care providers understand how frustrating any kind of urinary incontinence — including overflow incontinence — can be.
That’s why we take it very seriously, working with our patients to diagnose and treat it. We don’t want urinary incontinence of any kind to stand between you and your enjoyment of life.
Here, we share some important information about what you can do if overflow incontinence is affecting you.
About overflow incontinence
Overflow incontinence typically occurs in people who can’t empty their bladder completely. Common signs of overflow incontinence include:
- A feeling of fullness in your bladder even after you’ve urinated
- Dribbling of small amounts urine from your bladder on a fairly regular basis
- Leaking urine while you sleep
- Slow-flowing urine
Sometimes, overflow incontinence is present with other types of incontinence, such as stress incontinence (leaking when laughter, coughing, sneezing, or other stresses push urine out of your bladder) or urgency incontinence, which is when you experience sudden urges to urinate.
Overflow incontinence can have a variety of causes. One of the most likely is a blockage in the bladder caused by a growth or a bladder stone. Other possible causes include:
- Certain medications
- Pelvic surgeries
- Muscle weakness
- Nerve damage
- Health problems like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or diabetic neuropathy
Treating overflow incontinence
The type of treatment we recommend for overflow incontinence depends on its cause. For example, if muscle weakness is contributing to incontinence, we may recommend exercises that strengthen your pelvic muscles.
If you have a bladder stone or other type of blockage, we talk with you about the best steps to take to eliminate the blockage.
In cases where overflow incontinence is related to a medication or medical condition, we discuss treatment options that take those factors into account. In some cases, changing medications or treating a medical condition differently can have a positive impact on incontinence.
Sometimes, surgery is necessary to address blockages or structural issues in your bladder.
Have your incontinence evaluated
Don’t put up with urinary incontinence any longer. No matter what type of incontinence you have or what has caused it, we work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to address your symptoms. Contact us today at our San Antonio, Texas, office to schedule an appointment.
