Urinary Incontinence Specialist
-
- Tweet
Patience Miller M.D., Ob-Gyn
Patience Miller, MD
Board Certified Obstetrics & Gynecology & Health and Wellness Coach located in San Antonio, TX
If you’ve ever experienced incontinence, you know that simply laughing, coughing, or sneezing can cause involuntarily leaks. Patience Miller, MD, OB/GYN, diagnoses and treats incontinence so you can get back to the activities you enjoy. Her practice is conveniently located in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Miller, a board-certified women’s health specialist, offers medical and surgical treatments, including a 96% effective sling procedure. Call today or book a consultation online.
Urinary Incontinence
What causes urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is caused by problems with the nerves and muscles in your urinary tract. Menopause, pregnancy, and childbirth all affect these nerves and muscles, sometimes leading to urinary incontinence.
Other causes include:
- Birth defects
- Bladder muscle weakness
- Brain or spinal cord injury
- Medication side effects
- Nerve disorders
- Pelvic floor weakness
- Urinary tract infection
- Medical conditions such as diabetes
Vaginal prolapse, where your vagina sags or drops out of place due to weakened support structures, may also lead to incontinence.
How is urinary incontinence diagnosed?
Dr. Miller takes a thorough health history and asks about your symptoms. She performs a pelvic exam to look for signs of prolapse.
She may perform a cough test during your exam. During a cough test, you cough and bear down with a full bladder to see whether you leak urine.
Or, she may suggest a pad test, where you wear a pad that absorbs leaked urine. Dr. Miller then weighs the pad to measure the amount of leakage.
Sometimes, she also recommends imaging tests or a bladder function assessment. These tests help Dr. Miller identify the best treatment options for your condition.
How is urinary incontinence treated?
Dr. Miller recommends an appropriate medical or surgical treatment based on your diagnosis. Sometimes your incontinence may improve with:
- Changes to your diet
- Pelvic floor exercises
- Medications to relax bladder muscles and prevent spasms
If the cause is an underlying structural problem in your urinary tract, she recommends a surgical procedure to correct the issue.
How does a sling procedure treat urinary incontinence?
The sling procedure helps to keep your urethra, the opening to your bladder, closed to prevent leaks. During the surgery, Dr. Miller inserts synthetic surgical tape between your vaginal and abdominal walls. The tape creates a supportive sling to help keep the urethra closed.
Over the next 4-6 weeks, your tissues grow around the tape, holding it in place. The procedure has a 96% success rate at eliminating or significantly relieving urinary incontinence, although actual results vary from patient to patient.
Many effective treatments are available for urinary incontinence. If you have a problem with urinary leakage, Patience Miller, MD, OB/GYN, can help you find relief. Call today or book a consultation online.
