Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Conroe & The Woodlands, TX
Bladder leaks are common and treatable. Dr. W. Cooper Buschemeyer III and his team offer several treatments to help you regain control and get back to everyday life.
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence means having trouble controlling your bladder and urine stream. It can cause leaks when you cough or sneeze, or when you feel a sudden, strong urge to urinate.
It can affect your confidence, your work and your relationships, and it can lead to complications such as urinary tract infections and skin rashes. You do not have to live with it. Dr. Buschemeyer offers treatments that can help restore bladder control and your quality of life.
Types of urinary incontinence
Knowing which type you have helps guide the right treatment.
Urge incontinence
A sudden, strong urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine.
Stress incontinence
Leaks when you laugh, sneeze, cough, jump or lift something heavy.
Functional incontinence
A physical or mental limitation, such as arthritis, keeps you from reaching the bathroom or undressing in time.
Mixed incontinence
A combination of stress, urge and functional causes.
Risk factors for urinary incontinence
Incontinence can affect anyone, but these factors raise your risk:
- Older age
- Being a woman
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Neurological diseases
- A family history of incontinence
Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, eating high-fiber foods, not smoking and doing regular pelvic floor exercises can all help lower your risk.
How incontinence is diagnosed
Dr. Buschemeyer works to find the cause of your symptoms before recommending treatment.
- Discussion and exam. He reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam.
- Urine tests. Basic urine tests help rule out infection and other causes.
- Further testing when needed. In some cases he may recommend urodynamic testing or a pelvic ultrasound.
Treatment options for urinary incontinence
Treatment is tailored to the type and cause of your incontinence. Options may include:
Pelvic floor exercises
Strengthen the muscles that control your bladder to reduce leaks.
Medications
Help you better control your bladder and reduce accidents.
Electrical stimulation
Strengthens pelvic floor muscles to reduce incontinence.
Medical devices
Specialized devices placed in the urethra or vagina can reduce leakage.
Injections
Certain substances are injected near the urethra or bladder to reduce symptoms.
Nerve stimulation
Electrical pulses stimulate the nerves that control the bladder, using a small implanted stimulator or vaginal inserts.
Surgery
An option when other treatments have not worked.
Your incontinence specialist
W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, M.D., is a board-certified urologic surgeon with a private practice serving Conroe and The Woodlands, TX. He completed his residency and fellowship in urologic surgery at Duke University Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident, and is an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Incontinence questions, answered
Is urinary incontinence normal?
It is common, especially with age, pregnancy and childbirth, but it is not something you simply have to accept. Effective treatments are available.
Can pelvic floor exercises really help?
Yes. Strengthening the muscles that control your bladder reduces leaks for many people, and it is often the first step in treatment.
Do I need surgery for incontinence?
Not usually. Surgery is considered when other treatments, such as exercises, medication or stimulation, have not worked.
Do you treat both men and women?
Yes. Dr. Buschemeyer evaluates and treats incontinence in both men and women.
Don’t let leaks control your life
Call Dr. Buschemeyer’s office or request an appointment online to find the treatment that fits you.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results vary. Please do not submit protected health information through our website.