Treatments For Urinary Incontinence in New York
Incontinence is a difficult but common topic for men and women to discuss because of the constant discomfort it can cause. However, unlike what many people think, experiencing incontinence is not a direct consequence of aging; instead, it affects people of any age, though it is most common in women. In New York, millions of patients report this condition and manage it quietly, believing it will be part of their lives; however, specialized treatments are the path to long-term solutions.
At Shtainer Urology, led by Dr. Alfred Shtainer, we provide personalized diagnostic techniques and treatment options for patients in Brooklyn and Queens. You won’t have to adjust your routine to avoid incidents; we are ready to help you regain control.
For erectile dysfunction patients, Dr. Alfred Shtainer performs innovative treatments to support their body’s metabolic and health conditions in his Brooklyn and Queens office
What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Incontinence is the inability to control your bladder, resulting in involuntary leakage of urine during activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. In some cases, the involuntary loss of control of your bladder is caused by incomplete bladder emptying, or after a sudden and intense urge to urinate. Regardless of the cause, every case deserves personalized treatment to help you regain control and prevent incontinence from affecting your daily hygiene or leaving you feeling uncomfortable. Additionally, reviewing your medical history is essential to identifying the cause and understanding how your bladder contributes to incontinence.
A Constant Growing Concern in New York
If you are experiencing incontinence symptoms, don’t isolate yourself; know that you are not alone. Contrary to what many people think, urinary leakage is a growing concern among US adults, a direct result of an aging population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, demographic information shows us the following trend:
These trends suggest that incontinence will affect millions more people as the population grows. Therefore, you should be open to treating it from the moment you experience symptoms, and you should feel relieved that this health concern is so common and that there are many ways to treat it.
Early Symptoms of Incontinence In New York
- Urinary urgency: An intense, sudden, and uncontrollable urge to urinate that makes it difficult to reach the bathroom in time.
- Discomfort when urinating: Burning, pressure, or pelvic discomfort during urination are not normal and may indicate loss of bladder control.
- Involuntary leakage or stress incontinence: Experiencing unexpected urine loss when you laugh, sneeze, cough, exercise, or lift heavy objects.
- Frequent urination: Feeling the need to empty your bladder more than 8 times a day, or waking up multiple times during the night (nocturia).
- Incomplete bladder emptying: A constant feeling of fullness or pressure in the lower abdomen even after you have just used the restroom.
Types of Incontinence
To treat incontinence effectively, diagnosis is key to identifying the exact cause and classifying it into the main categories. These categories include:
Stress Incontinence
The most common incontinence type in New York occurs when physical movement or pressure is placed on your bladder. Most patients experience leakage due to weakened pelvic floor muscles from pregnancy, childbirth, or natural aging.
Urge Incontinence
This type of incontinence is characterized by sudden, strong contractions of the bladder muscle that trigger an immediate and urgent need to urinate, resulting in leakage before reaching a restroom. These contractions are triggered by nerve signals or by fluids.
Mixed Incontinence
When you experience both stress leakage and sudden, urgent bladder spasms, these are signals for mixed incontinence. Causes typically include a combination of weakened pelvic floor support and involuntary bladder contractions
Our Available Options for Treating Incontinence
At Shtainer Urology, we offer a wide range of approaches to treating urinary incontinence, especially because we understand how important it is to be healthy in New York to keep up with the city’s fast-paced lifestyle. For that reason, our focus is on long-term results by offering realistic options for managing incontinence so you can stay productive.
- Lifestyle adaptations: Incontinence is often caused by the patient’s behavior. By training the bladder muscle, making dietary adjustments, and performing pelvic floor strengthening exercises (most commonly known as Kegel exercises), we can better support bladder control and reduce incontinence.
- Targeted medications: For incontinence, medications include anticholinergics that reduce bladder spasms and relax smooth muscle, or alpha-agonists that strengthen muscle tone near the urethra.
- Minimally invasive procedures: If your bladder concerns require a more definitive approach, we offer innovative, minimally invasive techniques to address bladder overactivity without the recovery time of major surgery.
About Dr. Alfred Shtainer
With a career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Alfred Shtainer is one of New York’s foremost urological specialists. A Board Certified Urologist and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he holds a faculty appointment as Clinical Instructor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and serves as an attending urologist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center.
FAQ
At what age does incontinence start?
Incontinence can occur at any age; however, there are two peaks in incidence: childhood and adults over 40 years of age.
Is urinary incontinence a normal part of getting older?
No, you don’t have to live with leakage at any age. While changes in muscle tone and hormone levels make incontinence more common as you age, it is a highly treatable medical condition.
When should I see a urologist for bladder leakage?
You should schedule an appointment if your bladder symptoms affect your daily routine, limit your physical activities, or cause emotional distress.
Where can I receive incontinence treatment in New York?
We have two convenient locations in New York City: our Brooklyn office in Sheepshead Bay (Ocean Avenue) and our Queens office in Rego Park (64th Road).
Treat Your Incontinence Issue in New York with Dr. Alfred Shtainer
For New Yorkers, the fast-paced lifestyle is a reality, and incontinence can be a frustrating condition if you stay active and productive. Don’t let incontinence become a constant, overwhelming burden and make you avoid your favorite activities or levae you feeling uncomfortable every day. Schedule your appointment to keep your urinary system healthy while your mind is free from stress.