Treatment for Incontinence


If you have incontinence, the goal of treatment is to prevent or reduce leaks. To do this, you and your doctor will work together to develop a treatment plan. This plan will likely include one or more of the following:


Pelvic muscle exercises (called Kegels)—These exercises help both men and women strengthen pelvic and sphincter muscles to better hold back urine. This will likely be the first treat- ment you try. See p. 11.


Topical estrogen (for women only)— These are creams, tablets or rings that release estrogen into your vagina. (But you shouldn’t use estrogen if you’ve had breast or uterine cancer.)


Electronic stimulation—This sends small pulses of electricity to your pelvic muscles to make them tighter and stronger.


Keep clean—wash your genital area with mild, scent-free soap that’s gentle on sensitive skin and pat dry. If rashes are a problem, ask your doctor to recommend an ointment.


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