Women's Health

Patients

What is Stress Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine. The problem afflicts approximately 13 million adults in the United States, 85% of them being women. There are many conditions that can cause loss of bladder control. Among women, the problem is most commonly associated with a specific condition called Stress Urinary Incontinence or SUI. Stress urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine during physical activity such as coughing, laughing, or lifting. The muscles that support the urethra (the small tube that carries urine out of the body) and bladder neck (the opening that connects the urethra to the bladder) have weakened, causing the urethra to drop during physical activity, resulting in urine leaking out of the body.

This type of incontinence can be treated with mid-uretheral slings or with bulking agents.

What is Excessive Menstrual Bleeding, or Menorrhagia?
Excessive Menstrual Bleeding, clinically known as menorrhagia, pronounced men-or-ah-zha, is a prolonged or abnormally heavy menstrual period. The following symptoms may be indicative of menorrhagia^i,ii:

• Periods lasting longer than seven days
• Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons in an hour
• Menstrual flow that includes large blood clots
• Menstrual flow that is heavy enough to interfere with your daily activities
• Fatigue or other anemia-like symptoms

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms consult with your doctor about the possibility that you may have menorrhagia.

 

ⁱWarner, PE., Critchley, HOD, et al. Menorrhagia I: Measured blood loss, clinical features and outcome in women with heavy periods: A survey with follow-up data. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2004) 190, 1216-23.
ⁱⁱMayo Clinic information on Menorrhagia: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menorrhagia/DS00394 MVO1820