Dealing with incontinence

Urgency can be treated with behavior modification, and there are many medicines available to help with the symptoms of urgency and urgency incontinence. There also is neurostimulation in which the nerves can be modulated. With this, a neurostimulator, which effectively is like a pacemaker, uses electrical impulses that can calm the nerves. But this is used much less frequently [than other treatments]; most women are treated with medicines.

There could be some women who are sensitized to aspects of diet like caffeine, and they can be helped with diet modification, but this isn't true for everyone.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The most important thing to say is that incontinence is treatable. Urinary incontinence keeps a lot of women from doing everyday activities like going to the grocery store or visiting with friends. But it is very treatable in the vast majority of cases and usually pretty simply.

Holly Selby is a former editor for The Baltimore Sun.

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