If you’re one of the estimated 17 million American women who suffer from urinary incontinence, feelings of shame, embarrassment and isolation may compel you to suffer in silence. However, a growing number of treatments and therapies can help improve your symptoms and restore your quality of life – even if you’ve previously had an unsuccessful procedure. According to the American Urogynecologic Society, 80 to 90 percent of women who seek treatment for urinary incontinence experience significant improvement.
“Many patients ask me if urinary incontinence is a normal part of aging,” says Savitha Krishnan, M.D., a urogynecologist with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. “And it does become more common as women age. But now the interventions are less invasive and the success rate higher than ever before, so it’s worthwhile to explore solutions with your doctor no matter what your prior experience or your age.”