Urinary Control Products

There are a variety of medical devices available to treat incontinence. These products can be spoken about with a physician at the Urology Division and the Women’s Center for Continence and Sexual Health at Premier Medical Group.

Who needs urinary control products?

Individuals who are experiencing urinary incontinence, or leaking urine by accident, can benefit from using urinary control products. It is important to discuss your symptoms with a healthcare provider. A medical professional can determine the type of urinary incontinence that you are experiencing. The diagnosis will help to inform them of the best treatment plan.

After discussing your medical history and conducting a physical exam, a doctor may:

  • Run a urinalysis
  • Ask you to keep a bladder diary (how much you drink, when you urinate, the amount of urine that you produce)
  • Do a postvoid residual measurement (you will urinate, then a doctor will use a catheter or ultrasound to see how much urine remains in your bladder)

A doctor may run more-involved tests like urodynamic testing or a pelvic ultrasound. These are more substantial treatment plans if you and a doctor are discussing surgical procedures.

 

Where can you get urinary control products?

Back to top

How you access urinary control products depends on the severity of your urinary incontinence. Medications and urinary devices will need to be discussed with a healthcare professional. Less invasive products or sanitary products may be as simple as visiting your local store.

How do you know when you need urinary control products?

Back to top

The best way to know when it is time to get urinary control products is by speaking with your doctor. A doctor may want to try another avenue(s) before they recommend any invasive or long-lasting urinary control products. It may start with exploring behavioral techniques, like:

  • Bladder training. Speak with your doctor about how long you should delay urination after feeling the urge to use the restroom. It may start by holding off a toilet trip for 10 minutes and gradually progressing until you urinate only every 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
  • Double voiding. Emptying your bladder by urinating and then waiting a few minutes to urinate again helps affected parties avoid overflow incontinence.
  • Fluid and diet management. Regain control of your bladder by reducing or eliminating alcohol, caffeine, and/or acidic foods. Losing weight and increasing physical activity can also be effective in avoiding the need for urinary control products. Ask your doctor if it is possibly necessary to reduce your overall liquid consumption.
  • Scheduled toilet trips. Urinating every two to four hours is an alternative to waiting until you need to use the toilet.

It may not be time for you to get any urinary control products. Try to remain calm and speak to a qualified professional about what lifestyle changes may be right for you instead.

What are common medications as urinary control products?

Back to top

There are several urinary incontinence medication options that are commonly used to treat urinary incontinence.

  • Anticholinergics: Certain medications will help to calm an overactive bladder. They may also be helpful to address urge incontinence. Ask your doctor about the options. Oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), tolterodine (Detrol), darifenacin (Enablex), fesoterodine (Toviaz), solifenacin (Vesicare), or trospium chloride are a few.
  • Mirabegron (Myrbetriq): The medication relaxes the bladder muscle. Treat urge incontinence by working to improve how much urine the bladder can hold and the amount that you can urinate in one sitting.
  • Alpha blockers: Men who experience urge incontinence or overflow incontinence may take these medications. The medications relax bladder neck muscles and muscle fibers in the prostate. They are tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), silodosin (Rapaflo), or doxazosin (Cardura).
  • Topical estrogen: Speak with your doctor about whether or not you are a candidate for applying low-dose, topical estrogen as a vaginal cream. You may also use it in a ring or patch form to improve tone and rejuvenate tissues in the urethra and vaginal areas.

Make sure that a doctor is aware beforehand of any other medications that you take to avoid negative interactions between prescriptions.

What medical devices work as urinary control products?

Back to top

There are two medical devices that are designed to act as urinary control products for women or individuals assigned female at birth.

  • Urethral insert, to be inserted before a specific activity that can trigger incontinence. It is a small, tampon-like disposable device. The insert is essentially a plug that prevents leakage and should be removed before urination.
  • Pessary, to be inserted into the vagina and worn all day. It is a silicone ring that is used in individuals with vaginal prolapse. The medical device supports the urethra, therefore preventing urine leakage.

These medical devices may not be for you. We encourage talking in-depth with your healthcare provider. Consider getting additional opinions on what is the best plan that accommodates your needs and improves your urinary quality of life.

What are interventional therapies for urinary control products?

Back to top

If you and your physician decide that interventional therapies are the best form of urinary control products for you, there are a few options.

  • Bulking material injections: The injection is done into the tissue that surrounds the urethra to keep the urethra closed and reduce leakage. The procedure is used when someone experiences stress incontinence. It is less effective than surgery and may require repeat procedures.
  • OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox): Injecting Botox into the bladder muscle is sometimes helpful for individuals who have an overactive bladder and urge incontinence. Doctors generally prescribe Botox as a later option if other treatments are unsuccessful.
  • Nerve stimulators: Speak with your doctor about two types of devices that use painless electrical pulses. These pulses stimulate the nerves that are involved in bladder control. One type of device is implanted and the other type is a removable plug. These methods are used when other previous methods are unsuccessful.

Who is eligible for surgery instead of urinary control products?

Back to top

Any surgery will have associated risks. A healthcare provider may review your symptoms and medical history before determining that the benefits of urinary incontinence surgery outweigh the potential risks. Procedures may include:

  • Bladder neck suspension: The procedure involves an abdominal incision. A surgeon will do it once you undergo general or spinal anesthesia.
  • Sling procedures: The sling helps to keep the urethra closed. A sling procedure can treat stress incontinence and reduce urine from leaking when you cough or sneeze.
  • Artificial urinary sphincter: When you urinate, you will press a valve implanted under your skin. A small, fluid-filled ring will deflate from around the bladder neck and allow a release of urine.
  • Prolapse surgery: Repairing pelvic organ prolapse is not a standalone procedure. It may be part of a treatment plan that includes a sling procedure to fully improve urinary incontinence symptoms.

What are alternative treatments for urinary control products?

Back to top

Medical treatments cannot always eliminate incontinence. Urinary control products that can ease any discomfort and unexpected urination are:

  • Pads and protective garments
  • A self-inserted catheter to drain your bladder several times per day

A healthcare provider may also recommend doing pelvic floor muscle exercises to strengthen the muscles that help control urination. Talk to your physician about how you should proceed with Kegel exercises to make sure that you do them correctly and in a safe manner.

Categories

Archives