HisandHerHealth: Information About Sexuality, Prostate, Incontinence

by Myron I. Murdock, M.D., FACS Medical Director, HHH

Many individuals, particularly women, have serious problems with urgency and frequency of urination, urgency control problems, bladder instability, and urgency incontinence. In the past the only drugs available to relax the bladder in these patients included Banthine, Probanthine, Hyoscyamine (Levbid), and Ditropan. The major side effect include dry mouth, constipation, visual disturbances, and occasionally mental agitation and fatigue.

by Gary E. Leach, MD Director, Tower Urology Institute for Continence Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Clinical Professor of Urology, USC

Millions of American suffer from urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control). It has been estimated that up to 18 percent of men will experience loss of bladder control during their life and that $10 billion is spent in the United States every year on pads and other incontinence related products. Also, in previous surveys, only 1 of 10 people with an incontinence problem sought help for their problem. The most common reasons for not seeking help included thinking that loss of bladder control is a "normal" part of aging (not true), that nothing could be done about the problem (also not true), or the incontinent person was too embarrassed to seek help. With current methods of evaluation and treatment, almost all bladder control problems can be either eliminated or significantly improved.