Posts Tagged ‘Bladder Infections’

According to the Women’s Specialists of Plano, a group of gynecologists in the Plano, Texas area, if you are a woman that has delivered multiple children, has experienced a difficult childbirth delivery, or if you have gone through menopause, you may experience the unwanted and frustrating symptoms associated with a cystocele. Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common disorder among both males and females, but even more commonly found in females because of the pelvic and vaginal pressure associated with the above scenarios.

A cystocele (also referred to as a prolapsed bladder) is a pelvic organ prolapse that is explained as the result of a drooping bladder. This condition most commonly affects women between the ages of 50-60. There are many reasons why a woman may experience a prolapsed bladder. A woman’s bladder can droop and cause a cystocele after pushing to deliver children, years of straining to have bowel movements, or heavy lifting over an extended period of time. Another common cause of a cystocele is a previous hysterectomy. Many gynecologists state that when women go through menopause, estrogen begins to naturally decrease within the female body. Estrogen regulates the strength of the muscles around the vagina. When Estrogen is no longer produced these muscles loosen and can lead to a prolapsed bladder.

Many women will have a cystocele and not show symptoms, while others will deal with a variety of unwanted symptoms.  Symptoms of a cystocele include:

• Pressure in the vaginal area
• A feeling of fullness in the pelvic region
• Discomfort in the pelvic area when you cough, bend, jump, lift, etc.
• Urinary incontinence ranging from mile to severe
• Bladder infections
• Pain or urinary leakage during sexual intercourse

All of these symptoms will vary depending on the stage and type of cystocele that is presented at diagnosis. There are three types of cystoceles that are classified by their severity.

They are classified as follows:

Grade 1 Cystocele

A grade 1 cystocele will show milder symptoms initially but may worsen if not treated.  During this phase the bladder droops just slightly into the vagina causing discomfort and urine leakage. The treatment for this type of cystocele may be rest and recovery, and avoiding heavy lifting or straining which may cause the problem to worsen.  Daily exercises of the vaginal muscles through Kegel movements is also recommended.

Grade 2 Cystocele

A grade 2 cystocele is a bit more severe.  During this phase the bladder droops until it can be seen through the opening of the vagina causing the complete obstruction of the vagina. This type of cystocele causes major discomfort and severe urinary incontinence. The treatment for this type of cystocele is usually some form of cystocele repair surgery but the cystocele may also be treated with a pessary device.

Grade 3 Cystocele

A grade 3 cystocele is the most severe of cystoceles. This is the diagnosis when the bladder droops low enough to bulge completely out of the vagina. Symptoms are similar to those of a grade 2 cystocele—but worse. Treatment for this type of bladder prolapse is cystocele repair surgery to move the bladder back into its proper place.

Treatment of grade 2 and grade 3 cystoceles are A.) The placement of a pessary device or B.) A cystocele repair surgery to place the bladder back into its place and keep it there.

A Pessary Device is a device that it placed against the uterus inside the vagina to hold the bladder in place. They are made of many types of materials in several different sizes. You and your OBGYN will discuss which is right for you, how to remove and replace it, and the proper procedures for cleaning it. A pessary must be removed on a regular basis to avoid infection or any other complications. Many women are fitted for a pessary device and yield very positive results.

Some women will require cystocele repair surgery for the treatment of their cystocele.  In this repair surgery sutures are used to reattach the fascia thus giving enough support to allow the bladder to remain in place. Patients receiving this surgery should be prepared to stay in the hospital for several days and take 4-6 weeks to fully recover. This surgery is very successful in replacing the bladder thus eliminating the cystocele. The surgery can be performed through open and laparoscopic techniques depending on the grade and severity of the defect. The percentage of recurring cystoceles is very small after a cystocele repair surgery.

If you are suffering from discomfort and urinary leakage or incontinence do not assume it could be the result of age, you need to see your doctor. In the early stages, cystocele treatments are minimally invasive and maximally effective.  Contact the Plano, Texas group of OBGYNs from the Women’s Specialists of Plano and learn more about cystocele out treatment options and cystocele repair surgery today.

An estimated 17 million women in the U.S. will cope with female bladder problems and urinary incontinence each year. According to the Women’s Specialists of Plano, TX, (972.379.2416, http://obgynplano.com), a large majority of these women do not discuss the symptoms associated with their incontinence with their family doctors and in many cases, the condition is left untreated.

Urinary incontinence is the medical term used to describe the loss of urine control. It can happen when you cough, sneeze, exercise or do any other type of activity that may put stress on the bladder. Urinary incontinence can exist where a woman might experience episodes of a slight dribble of urine, to the inability to hold urine all together; it can also be temporary or permanent depending on the underlying cause. While it is not a serious health concern, it can lead to anxiety, stress and embarrassment for sufferers.

Causes of Female Urinary Incontinence

Female urinary incontinence is usually caused by weakened or damaged pelvic muscles that prevent the urethra from closing tight enough to hold urine in the bladder. Many women will experience incontinence after giving childbirth where exceptional strain is put on the pelvic region. For many, this condition will go away, while for others, it will continue to worsen before female incontinence treatment is sought. Other causes of female urinary incontinence include:

• Childbirth
• The aging process
• Traumatic injury
• Weight gain
• Smoking
• Neurological disorders (spinal cord/head injuries)
• Infections (urinary tract, bladder infections, etc.)
• Certain diseases (such as Multiple Sclerosis)
• Medications, prescription drugs

Types of Female Urinary Incontinence

Drs. Daryl Greebon, Jules Monier, Murray Fox, Dennis Eisenberg and Jennifer Newton are Plano, Texas gynecologists that make up the Women’s Specialists of Plano. They offer female incontinence treatment and see various types of female urinary incontinence from patients that enter their office doors.

There are five basic types of urinary incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when you leak urine during a physical activity such as lifting, jumping, exercising, sneezing and coughing. It is typically a result of both hypermobility (which occurs when the urethra and bladder neck shift from their normal positions) and an Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency, which occurs when the urethral sphincter is unable to close tightly enough to hold urine in the bladder during physical exertion.

Urge incontinence is described as over-activity of the detrusor muscle, which is the smooth muscle that surrounds the bladder. It typically relaxes to allow the bladder to fill, then contracts to squeeze out urine when a woman goes to the toilet. During urge incontinence, the bladder will contract frequently creating an overwhelming need to urinate even if you just went. This condition is often referred to as “overactive bladder” and makes it difficult to hold your urine long enough to reach a toilet.

Other forms of female urinary incontinence include overflow incontinence where the bladder never completely empties causing urine to leak, and functional incontinence where a physical limitation or immobility may exist making it impossible for a person to reach the toilet in time.

Female Incontinence Treatment

There are solutions for female urinary incontinence and female bladder problems that have been proven to bring them a sense of normalcy. Every woman should discuss their symptoms with their physician so that the correct solution can be found.  For mild incontinence, Kegal exercises are usually effective; behavior therapies and small lifestyle changes such as decreasing the amount of fluids taken in or scheduling bladder elimination can also help.

For women who experience moderate incontinence, medications, protective undergarments and bulking injections such as collagen may be used. Some women find that their female bladder problems go away with the use of a pessary device. A pessary device is a stiff ring that is inserted into the vagina where it places pressure against the wall of the vagina and urethra. This pressure helps control leakage because it repositions the urethra.

For many women, surgery becomes the answer in order to get their incontinence under control. Retropubic suspensions are used to treat hypermobility. These suspensions elevate and restore the bladder neck and urethra back to their natural anatomical positions.  This procedure is often referred to as the Burch procedure.

A variety of slings are also available to help restore normal bladder function. Slings can be inserted via a minimally-invasive surgical technique to help support the bladder and urethra. Some slings use self-fixating anchors while others use sutures.  All are used to provide relief of the sensations and symptoms associated with urinary incontinence and most provide good results.

If you suffer from incontinence, make an appointment with your gynecologist to talk about your symptoms and options for a permanent solution so that your quality of life can be restored and the stress and anxiety from female urinary incontinence eliminated.