urinary incontinence

Female Urinary Incontinence


Most women experience urinary incontinence at different stages of their life, with different levels of severity. Aging and menopause is one of the most common causes of urinary incontinence. However, many young women experience urinary incontinence and loss of bladder control during pregnancy and after childbirth. Some of these issues resolve spontaneously, while other instances treatment is required, especially with chronic urinary incontinence.

Think of a bladder as a tank that gets filled all the time with urine. The tank is surrounded by a muscle and it has one opening which is also controlled by the sphincter muscle. This is the detrusor muscle along with other bigger muscles such as the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are responsible for supporting and controlling bladder functionality. Therefore, weakening of the pelvic floor muscles will result in different disorders including urinary incontinence.

What causes the pelvic floor muscles to weaken? Constant pressure and prolonged stretching causes a permanent change in this muscle and weakens it. The increased pressure can be a result of pregnancy, being overweight and some types of exercise. Female athletes involved in repetitive, high-intensity physical activity are more prone to have urinary incontinence.

incontinence in female

Types of urinary incontinence

There are three different types of chronic urinary incontinence:

  • Stress urinary incontinence: is when you don’t feel the urge to urinate, but leak urine due to moderate abdominal muscle contractions such as laughing and sneezing.
  • Overactive bladder: is when you feel a sudden urge to urinate and experience leaking before reaching the bathroom. This can happen even when the bladder isn’t full.
  • Acute urinary incontinence: is due to a urinary tract infection or kidney disease and can be resolved when the infection is treated. 

Treatment options

There are some pharmaceutical treatments available for chronic urinary incontinence that could be prescribed by your family physician, mainly with an overactive bladder. These treatments are not permanent, meaning, it reduces the symptoms but does not correct the main cause of the urinary incontinence. 

Medications have very little effect on stress urinary incontinence, which is most prevalent among women. Options include reducing pressure on your bladder by losing weight (in obese patients), electrical stimulation and different types of surgery.

Votiva as a treatment option 

We recommend restoring the strength and functionality of the pelvic floor muscles to help you have better control over your bladder. There are some exercises that women can do, such as Kegels. It’s an excellent option, but may not help long term. Votiva offers long term results for stress incontinence in women.

Votiva is safe and efficient. It doesn’t leave burns or scars and requires minimal downtown after each treatment. 

Votiva is a revolutionary vaginal tightening machine that uses radio frequency energy to rejuvenate the vagina. The depths of Radio Frequency dissipation and the controlled heating temperature over the treatment session means enhanced efficacy. Votiva does not only treat the superficial tissues but deeply penetrates to heat the connective tissue and pelvic floor muscles. 

How does the treatment go?

The treatment is about 30 minutes, and it is pain free. It involves inserting a small probe vaginally for 10 minutes inside the vagina and 10 minutes outside the vagina. For optimal results, women need three treatments, one month apart, with a once a year maintenance treatment. Some women reported that they stopped using incontinence pads after the first treatment. All women experienced significant improvement in their sexual life, such as more pleasure and less pain during and after intercourse.

Benefits of Votiva

  1. Optimal results: Some who use Votiva have noticed immediate results. Others wait a short period of time to see results. But what they all have in common is noticing optimal results.
  2. Repairs the external and internal vaginal tissue: After giving birth, your vaginal tissue can become lax. Sexual intercourse can become painful or less enjoyable. Votiva helps to restore both the external and internal tissues of the vagina, which increases sexual pleasure. 
  3. Sensitivity is increased: With a tighter vagina, your sexual experience is enhanced. This can significantly aid in your relationship and quality of life.
  4. It can assist with hypertrophy of the labia: Some women struggle with long and enlarged labias. Votiva tightens and restores the labia tissues, helping with the appearance and shape.

Next steps

Interested in a free complimentary assessment and consultation? Call Albany Cosmetic and Laser center in Edmonton to see one of our medical staff lead. Dr. Adel Abdulhafez, a board certified GYN.

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