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A Simple Explanation of Urinary Incontinence | Fullerton, CA

Gynecology, Urinary Incontinence, , ,

Senior Woman Enjoying Hot DrinkUrinary Incontinence & Pelvic Prolapse

Incontinence is the inability to control either your urine or stool until a socially appropriate time. There are multiple causes of incontinence depending upon which nerves, tissues or organs have been damaged

Definitions

“Stress” Urinary Incontinence, Type I:

This involuntary loss of urine is associated with sudden increases in abdominal pressure, such as laughing, coughing or exercising. It is due to a defect in the pelvic floor support of the bladder. Mild incontinence can generally be corrected with a program of pelvic floor exercises and bio-feedback therapy. Outpatient surgery will usually correct the more severe forms.

“Urge” Urinary Incontinence, Type II:

When the bladder muscle involuntarily contracts, partial or complete bladder emptying occurs. It is usually associated with a strong urge to urinate. Frequently, this may occur with specific events, such as arriving at your home or hearing running water. Treating the underlying causes and instituting behavior modification programs will usually correct this type of incontinence. Our bio-feedback program is very helpful in treating this type of incontinence when initial treatments are not completely successful.

“Stress” Urinary Incontinence, Type III:

This type of incontinence is similar to Type I incontinence, but the cause is entirely different. Rather than due to a loss of support, there is an abnormally “low pressure” within the urethra, which may allow urine loss to occur with any physical activity. It is treated differently from Type I.

Fecal Incontinence:

This is an involuntary loss of stool, which may occur with our without the sense of the need to defecate. There are many causes of fecal incontinence and treatment varies according to the individual diagnosis.

Pelvic Prolapse

The muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor are attached to the uterus, bladder, vagina and rectum. When these structures are weakened or damaged (often from childbirth), the pelvic organs will protrude down toward the outside of the body resulting in pressure or a “falling-out” sensation. Depending on the specific organs involved there may be abnormal bladder, bowel or sexual function.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

FAQ’s About Urinary Incontinence | Fullerton, CA

InterStem Therapy, Urinary Incontinence, , , , ,

iStock_000005142700SmallWhat is Female Urology?

Female Urology (referred to as Urogynecology) is a subspecialty within Obstetrics and Gynecology that focuses on disorders of the female pelvic floor such as pelvic organ prolapse (bulging out of the uterus and/or vagina), urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence.

How common is urinary incontinence among women?

It is estimated that 11 million American women currently suffer from leakage of urine. However, that estimate may be low. A study of 2800 postmenopausal women funded by the National Institute on Aging found that 56% of women experienced urinary incontinence at least weekly. Many women incorrectly assume that urine leakage is normal. While this problem may be very common, it should not be considered normal.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary discharge of urine. There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence. The key to treatment is identifying the specific type of the incontinence a woman is experiencing through a careful medical interview and a focused physical exam. Frequently, a special test called urodynamics is recommended to accurately diagnose the problem. Urodynamics studies should always be performed when a woman is considering surgery to correct her incontinence.

The two most common types of urinary incontinence are “stress incontinence” and “urge incontinence”. Stress incontinence is accidental urine leakage that occurs during physical activities that cause a sudden pressure (or “stress”) on the bladder such as laughing, lifting, coughing, or sneezing. Urge incontinence is urine leakage that occurs before a woman has a chance to get to the bathroom in response to urge to urinate. Women with this type of leakage may also experience frequent urges to urinate, the inability to suppress the urge and frequent nighttime waking to urinate.

What treatment options are available?

Treatment for urinary incontinence varies on the type and severity of incontinence. The first step in treating the problem is determining an accurate diagnosis.

Stress incontinence can be effectively treated with pelvic floor exercises, devices that “block” the loss of urine, or surgery.

Urge incontinence is commonly treated with medication, biofeedback, or electrical stimulation to the nerves that control the bladder.

There is a wide variety of non-surgical and surgical treatment options available for all kinds of urinary incontinence.

What are the surgical options to treat stress incontinence?

When it comes to treating stress incontinence, not all surgical procedures are equal. There are many variations of anti-incontinence surgery, but the two surgical procedures that have the best results are retropubic urethropexy (Burch Procedure) and the trans-vaginal sub-urethral sling. The tension free vaginal tape (TVT) has rapidly replaced most other surgeries for stress incontinence. The TVT procedure involves the placement of synthetic sling material at the mid-urethra. The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes and may be performed on an outpatient basis. Although no surgery for incontinence has a 100% cure rate, the retropubic urethropexy or suburethral sling permanently cure 75-95% of women suffering with stress incontinence.

What are the risks of surgery to correct stress urinary incontinence?

All surgical procedures present some risks. Although rare, potential complications may include difficulty emptying the bladder and development of urge incontinence.

How can I prevent this problem?

All the factors that cause urinary incontinence are not fully understood, so it is difficult to recommend ways to prevent the problem. Pelvic muscle exercises, also known as “Kegel” exercises, help strengthen the pelvic floor and are probably the best thing you can do to help prevent stress incontinence. Refer to: Health Topics for Women, Bladder Problems on this website.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Treatment Options for an Overactive Bladder | Fullerton, CA

InterStem Therapy, Urinary Incontinence, , , ,

Grandparent and daughterSuffering from an Overactive Bladder can be life altering. The good news is an Overactive Bladder can be treated. Some of the treatment options are as follows:

  • Dietary changes
  • Fluid management
  • Pelvic muscle exercises
  • Drug therapy
  • Sacral nerve stimulation

Dietary Changes

Some symptoms of overactive bladder can be managed by changing your diet. Keeping a diary of what foods you eat and how much fluids you consume can possible help you form a correlation between consumption and urination.

Some foods and drinks to avoid are:

  • Caffeine – Increases bladder activity.
  • Alcohol – It has been shown to act as a bladder stimulant. It triggers symptoms of overactive bladder and acts as a diuretic, increasing the frequency of urination.
  • Artificial Sweeteners – Studies have shown sweeteners negatively affect bladder function. Frequency and urgency of urination were increased after consuming drinks with artificial sweeteners.

The best thing for you to drink is plenty of water. Water is a great beverage for your bladder. Some people think by not drinking water they will help their overactive bladder. However, not enough water intake leads to urine that is highly concentrated. Dark yellow and strong smelling urine actually makes you go to the bathroom more often and causes bacteria to grow.

Pelvic Muscle Exercises

These type of exercises help prevent and/or alleviate symptoms, since they strengthen the pelvic floor. They send a signal to the bladder to relax and resume filling. Through regular exercises you can build strength and endurance to help regain and maintain bladder control.

InterStim Therapy

The InterStim Therapy process works by delivering electrical stimulation directly to the sacral nerves. It is shown to be successful in 4 out of 5 patients. InterStim therapy involves two stages. First, there is a test. Then second, a permanent implant. The implant delivers electrical stimulation without having to revisit the doctor. It is an outpatient procedure. The implant is surgically placed under the skin in the upper buttock or abdomen. It stimulates the sacral nerve using electric pulses.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Bladder Incontinence, you are not alone | Fullerton, CA

Urinary Incontinence, , ,

mature woman blonde greyBladder incontinence or the unintentional loss of urine, is a problem for more than 13 million Americans—85 percent of them women. Even though around half of the elderly population has bladder incontinence, it is not usually a consequence of age.
Several factors cause bladder incontinence. Women are most likely to develop it during pregnancy and childbirth, or after the hormonal changes of menopause, because of weakened pelvic muscles. Older men can become incontinent as the result of prostate surgery. Pelvic trauma, spinal cord damage, caffeine, or medications including cold or over-the-counter diet tablets also can cause incontinence.

But even though urinary incontinence can be improved in 8 out of 10 cases, fewer than half of those with bladder problems ever discuss the condition with their health care professional. The condition often goes untreated.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Menopause and Hormone Replacement The Verdict is In! | Fullerton, CA

Menopause, , , ,

iStock_000014235018SmallAccording to Dr. Gordon Gunn in Fullerton, CA, menopause is a natural occurring event that all women will experience, usually in their early 50’s, when their ovaries cease producing estrogen. Post-menopause is diagnosed when a woman has not menstruated for one year and marks the end of the reproductive period of her life.

Peri-menopause is diagnosed when the menstrual cycles vary in frequency and length and may be associated with psychological, emotional and/or physical symptoms (discussed later). These disturbances are due to a declining ovarian production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone that may be periodic or continuous.

Women born prior to the 1930’s had a life expectancy of about 50 yrs. Today, a woman can expect to live well into her 80’s with over one-third of her life occurring after menopause.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn to learn more about the treatment options available at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Stop Fecal Incontinence | Fullerton, CA

Fecal Incontinence, , , , ,

A loving grandparentAre you having trouble controlling your bowel movements? You could have fecal incontinence. Dr. Gordon Gunn of the Gunn Center in Fullerton, CA can help.

Fecal incontinence is the inability to control your bowel movements. Stool can leak unexpectedly from your rectum. Fecal incontinence can range from a random leakage of stool say while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control.

Fecal incontinence can be caused by many things; constipation, nerve damage or diarrhea. Also, you could have a weakened sphincter due to age or damage of the muscles of the rectum and anus from things such as giving birth. Treatments are available that can improve or even correct fecal incontinence.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Is an Overactive Bladder hindering your life? InterStim Therapy can help. | Fullerton, CA

InterStem Therapy, Urinary Incontinence, , ,

iStock_000003648493Small - 28Are you suffering from an overactive bladder?  Dr. Gordon Gunn of Fullerton, CA may be able to help with the use of InterStim® Therapy.

InterStim therapy is a treatment that uses mild electrical pulses (called electrical stimulation) to stimulate nerves in your lower back, just above the tailbone. These nerves activate or inhibit muscles and organs that contribute to urinary control — the bladder, sphincter and pelvic floor muscles.

InterStim Therapy might be right for you if you have the following symptoms:

  • Urge incontinence: The involuntary and accidental loss of urine.
  • Urgency: A strong, intense and often sudden desire to urinate.
  • Frequency: Urinating more than eight times in a 24-hour period.
  • Urinary retention: the inability or failure to completely empty the bladder.

To find out more about InterStim Therapy, contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

 

Do you suffering from Bladder Incontinence?| Fullerton, CA

Urinary Incontinence, , , , , ,

iStock_000008712786SmallOveractive bladder or as it’s also called urge incontinence is the strong, sudden need to urinate due to bladder spasms or contractions. The following information can help you determine if you think you might have an overactive bladder. If you believe you do, Dr. Gordon Gunn MD of Fullerton, CA can help.

With urge incontinence, you leak urine because the bladder muscles contract at the wrong times. Often these contractions occur no matter how much urine is in the bladder.

An over active bladder may result from:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Bladder inflammation
  • Bladder outlet obstruction
  • Bladder stones
  • Infection
  • Nervous system diseases (such as multiple sclerosis)
  • Nervous system injuries (such as spinal cord injury or stroke)

In men, it also may be due to:

  • Bladder changes caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
  • Bladder outlet obstruction from an enlarged prostate
  • In most cases of urge incontinence, no cause can be found.

Overactive bladder is more common in woman and the elderly.

Some of the symptoms of overactive bladder are:

  • Frequent urination, in the daytime and at night
  • Loss of urine without meaning to urinate
  • Sudden and urgent need to urinate (urinary urgency)

If you believe you are suffering from an overactive bladder, contact Dr. Gordon Gunn at (Phone Number) and make an appointment today. Or visit his website at (Website)

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Gynecology for Adolescents | Fullerton, CA

Gynecology, , , , , , ,

mom and teen daughterKnowing the right time to start visiting a gynecologist is important. A teenage girl should first visit a gynecologist between ages 13 and 15, according to the current recommendation by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This initial visit doesn’t necessarily have to include a pelvic exam and Pap smear. If you are worried about that, do not worry. This first visit would include the discussion of changes in the body that occur between adolescence and adulthood.

The doctor can assess whether she has normal development of secondary sex characteristics (the changes that come with puberty). At this young age, menstrual cycles are often irregular for several years. The doctor can offer reassurance that this is common.

The doctor can also monitor weight gain, develop severe acne and also have irregular menstrual cycles, which are possible signs of polycystic ovary syndrome. Treatment during these formative years can potentially prevent weight gain, skin scarring and the complications of diabetes, hypertension and infertility.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.

Breast Cancer Survivors and the Role of Hormone Therapy | Fullerton, CA

Breast Cancer, , ,

Senior Woman Enjoying Hot DrinkIn the United States, one out of nine women will have developed breast cancer by the time they reach their 90’s. Although the incidence of breast cancer is rising, the cure rate of early-detected invasive disease (lymph nodes negative for tumor) is excellent (97%). The role of estrogen as a possible risk factor for breast cancer has and continues to be a subject of major concern.

Contact Dr. Gordon Gunn today at (714) 912-2211 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Gunn also proudly serves Buena Park, La Mirada, Yorba Linda, Diamond Bar, Walnut, and surrounding areas.