Voiding dysfunction refers to a range of conditions that affect the bladder’s ability to store and release urine. This can manifest as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, urgency, incontinence, or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. Understanding the available treatment options at our surgical hospital in Webster is crucial for managing this condition and improving quality of life.
Conservative Therapies
For mild to moderate cases, conservative approaches are often the first line of treatment used by our urologists in Webster, TX. These methods aim to improve bladder control and function without invasive procedures.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Changes in diet and fluid intake can significantly impact bladder function. Reducing consumption of caffeine and alcohol, which are diuretics, can decrease urinary frequency and urgency. Managing fluid intake, especially before bedtime, can also help.
- Bladder Training: This technique involves scheduled voiding to retrain the bladder to hold more urine. Over time, the intervals between bathroom visits are gradually increased.
- Pelvic Floor Therapy: Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through exercises, such as Kegel exercises, can improve bladder control and reduce incontinence. A physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction can provide guidance and support.
- Medications: Several medications can help manage the symptoms of voiding dysfunction. Alpha-blockers can relax the muscles around the prostate and bladder neck, making it easier to urinate. Anticholinergics can reduce bladder spasms and urgency.
Interventional Treatments
If conservative therapies are not sufficient, more interventional treatments may be considered.
- Botox Injections: Injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the bladder muscle can help relax it and reduce urgency and frequency. This treatment is typically used for overactive bladder.
- Neuromodulation: This therapy involves stimulating nerves that control bladder function. Sacral neuromodulation uses a small implanted device to send electrical impulses to the sacral nerves in the lower back. Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a less invasive technique that stimulates the tibial nerve in the ankle.
- Catheterization: For individuals who have difficulty emptying their bladder completely, intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) may be necessary. This involves inserting a thin tube into the urethra to drain urine.
Surgical Options
In some cases, surgery may be required to address the underlying causes of voiding dysfunction.
- Urethral Dilation: This procedure widens a narrowed urethra, making it easier to urinate.
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter: This device is surgically implanted to control urine flow in individuals with severe incontinence.
- Sling Surgery: This procedure is primarily used to treat stress urinary incontinence in women. A strip of mesh is placed under the urethra to provide support.
Finding the Right Care
Voiding dysfunction affects more and more Americans, but your doctor can help you find releif. If you are experiencing symptoms, it’s essential to consult with a urologist in Webster, TX, to determine the right course of action for your specific condition. Our Webster surgical hospital offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for a wide range of urological issues.
To find a qualified urologist and explore treatment options, consider visiting Houston Physicians’ Hospital’s website.
On the Urology services page, you can scroll down and find a urologist who’s right for you. Then click their link to visit their website and make