Urinary Incontinence Specialist
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Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC
Gerard A. Curtis, MD
Board Certified Urologist located in Sarasota, FL & Lakewood Ranch, FL
About 50% of women and 25% of men struggle with urinary incontinence. If you have frequent urges to urinate, accidental urine loss, or wake up frequently overnight to use the bathroom, you might have urinary incontinence. At Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC, dedicated urologist Gerard Curtis, MD, specializes in all forms of urinary incontinence. He uses the best in personalized treatment options that fit your lifestyle. Call the Sarasota, Florida, office or book an appointment online today.
Urinary Incontinence Q&A
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence means you have difficulty controlling your bladder and sphincter, the muscle that controls urine flow out of your bladder. Many urinary incontinence sufferers experience uncomfortable, embarrassing, and aggravating symptoms on a daily or almost daily basis.
There are several types of urinary incontinence:
Stress urinary incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence is urine leakage that occurs when you move your abdominal and pelvic muscles forcefully. This can include things like bending over, lifting something heavy, sneezing, or coughing.
Overactive bladder
Overactive bladder, or urge urinary incontinence, causes sudden overpowering urges to urinate. With such sudden urges, it's quite common for overactive bladder sufferers to have urine leaks. Overactive bladder is more common in older adults.
Overflow incontinence
Overflow incontinence occurs when you have trouble emptying your bladder. This leaves urine in your bladder constantly, which means leaks occur frequently.
If you have symptoms of both stress incontinence and overactive bladder, it's called mixed urinary incontinence.
What causes urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence causes vary widely. Some common reasons for urinary incontinence include:
- UTIs
- Chronic constipation
- Certain medications, including antidepressants and blood pressure drugs
- Certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol
- Chronic conditions like diabetes and multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Enlarged prostate
- Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause
Dr. Curtis specializes in both male and female urinary incontinence. He understands that each patient has unique circumstances, and he reviews your history, lifestyle, and symptoms to diagnose your incontinence and the underlying reasons for it.
How do you treat urinary incontinence?
At Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC, Dr. Curtis recommends noninvasive and minimally invasive solutions for both female and male urinary incontinence. If you have an underlying health problem, like an enlarged prostate, treating it often solves the incontinence.
Treatment for urinary incontinence includes:
- InterStim™: sacral nerve modulation for women to improve bladder control
- UroLift®: enlarged prostate treatment that can also relieve urinary incontinence
- Botox®: injections to reduce bladder spasms in overactive bladder sufferers
- Medication: drugs that relax the bladder
- Hormones: hormone replacement for postmenopausal incontinence
For severe urinary incontinence that doesn’t improve with a combination of lifestyle and medical treatments, Dr. Curtis may recommend surgery. He’s an expert in pelvic organ prolapse surgery and other procedures that repair and restore even very complex urinary tract damage.
At Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC, Dr. Curtis is ready to treat your urinary incontinence using carefully customized treatments. Call the office or use online scheduling to book your appointment today.
