Treatments for Incontinence

Incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is twice as common in women as it is in men. It typically develops when the bladder muscles tighten, and the sphincter muscles lack the strength to pinch the urethra shut. This can cause a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate. In some instances, incontinence may also be caused by a problem with the nerves controlling the bladder muscles and the urethra. Depending on the specifics of your condition, you may leak a small amount of urine or release significant amounts of urine.

There are several treatment options for incontinence, and our urologists will recommend the right approach based on the type, cause and severity of your condition:

• Lifestyle changes which may include reducing the intake of bladder irritants such as alcohol and caffeine, losing weight and managing fluid intake
• Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles
• Bladder training (scheduled voiding and gradually increasing the time between urination)
• Medications
• Medical devices
• Interventional therapies such as electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles, bulking agent injections around the urethra or sacral nerve stimulation

Treatments for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones develop when the chemicals contained in urine become crystalized and form a solid structure within the kidney. They can be extremely painful and cause blood in your urine. If kidney stones become large enough to cause a significant blockage, it can result in an infection or in severe cases, kidney failure.

It can often take a while before kidney stones result in any symptoms. Typically, you won’t experience any symptoms until the kidney stones pass from the kidney into the ureter. Once this occurs, symptoms may include:

• Severe pain in the side and back, blow the ribs, which may radiate to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting

Your recommended treatment will depend on the type, size and location of the kidney stone, as well as the severity of your symptoms. Small kidney stones can often be passed naturally by drinking plenty of fluids and using pain relievers as needed. In addition, our doctors may prescribe medications to relax the ureter and help the stone pass more easily.

If your kidney stone is too large to pass naturally or results in an infection or blockage, our urologists may recommend one of the following treatments:

• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy – Sound waves are used to break the kidney stone into smaller pieces that can be passed naturally when you urinate
• Ureteroscopy – A thin scope is inserted through the urethra and bladder to remove or break up the kidney stone
• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy – The kidney stone is surgically removed through a small incision in your back
• Surgery – In rare cases, open surgery may be required when there is a very large or complex kidney stone

Cancer Treatments

The two most common cancers affecting the urinary tract are bladder cancer and prostate cancer. While bladder cancer can occur in both men and women, the overwhelming majority of cases occur in men. When caught early, it has a very strong survival rate. Early symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine, a frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation while urinating. Symptoms of more advanced bladder cancer may include:

• Lower back pain on one side of the body
• Inability to urinate
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Bone pain
• Swelling in the feet

Treatments for bladder cancer will depend on the stage of the cancer and whether it has spread to other regions of your body. Our urologists will work with your oncologist to develop the best treatment plan based on your specific condition.

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In most instances, you won’t exhibit any symptoms until prostate cancer has become more advanced. At this point, symptoms may include:

• Weak urine flow
• Pain or burning during urination
• Difficulty starting or stopping urination
• Blood in the urine
• Frequent urination

Men’s Fertility and Sexual Health Treatments

Our urology team offers a wide range of treatments for men’s fertility and sexual health conditions. Services we offer include:

• Treatments for male infertility
• Vasectomy
• Vasectomy reversal
• Abnormal semen analysis
• Erectile dysfunction
• Ejaculatory dysfunction
• Testosterone replacement therapy