Urinary incontinence can be caused by a number of different factors. Its root cause lies in the muscles that control the flow of your urine. If your bladder contracts without warning, or your sphincter muscles can no longer hold back the flow of urine, you may urinate without intending to.

Common causes of urinary incontinence include pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. It can also be caused by a urinary tract infection, constipation or certain neurological disorders. Risk factors, such as gender, weight and other conditions, do not generally cause urinary incontinence, but they can make it worse.

Temporary urinary incontinence is often caused by consuming too much alcohol or caffeine. It can also be caused by certain medications and sedatives.

For mild cases of urinary incontinence, you may be able to manage simply by wearing pads and using the bathroom frequently. If not, your provider will likely have several recommendations.

Kegel exercises help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. This is one of the most popular treatment options for urinary incontinence, as Kegel exercises can be performed almost anywhere, from your desk at work to watching TV at home. It is recommended that you discuss how to perform them with your provider, however. Ensuring you are performing Kegel exercises correctly will make them much more effective.

Other methods to improve your bladder control include losing weight, and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking. There are medications available which may help. You may also want to try biofeedback, nerve stimulation, or pessary devices. If nothing else is helping, surgery is a treatment option, depending on the type of urinary incontinence you have.

Urinary incontinence may be embarrassing, but if you are suffering, you aren’t alone. Speak to your provider about your treatment options today.

While providers do not know for sure what exactly causes uterine fibroids, both your genes and hormones are thought to play a role in their development.

A hysterectomy can be used to treat a number of problems or conditions. For example, a hysterectomy can be used to treat uterine fibroids, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain and adenomyosis. It can remedy uterine prolapse, cancer of the uterus and unusually heavy bleeding. Because of its invasive and non­-reversible nature, however, a hysterectomy is typically only done when absolutely necessary. You will need to speak to your provider about your options to find out if a hysterectomy is the best option or you.

A hysterectomy can be performed several ways. In an abdominal hysterectomy, the provider will remove the uterus by making an incision in the abdomen. In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the entire surgery is done using only small incisions for a faster healing time.

Most women who have a hysterectomy suffer no serious complications as a result. Women who do suffer complications are more likely to have vaginal prolapse, chronic pain, blood clots, fistula formation, urinary incontinence or hemorrhage.

One unavoidable side effect of a hysterectomy in young women and women of childbearing age is that it eliminates the possibility of becoming pregnant, and sends them into menopause instead. For this reason, many providers hesitate to perform a hysterectomy on a young woman unless it is medically necessary, even if she thinks she is probably done having children. A hysterectomy is not reversible later if she should change her mind.

If you are currently suffering from a condition for which a hysterectomy is a known cure, talk to your provider about your treatment options today.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, is a common endocrine disorder affecting as many as 1 in 10 women of childbearing age, according to womenshealth.gov. PCOS is characterized by enlarged ovaries that contain follicles, or small collections of fluid, and it has been known to affect girls as young as 11 years old.

While no one knows the exact cause of PCOS, providers do know that the condition is caused by a hormonal imbalance. Factors such as heredity, excess weight, excess insulin, and inflammation can all play a role in causing the condition as well.

PCOS is typically characterized by infrequent menstrual periods, infertility and an increase in male hormone production, which can cause excess facial hair growth, weight gain, adult acne and even male pattern baldness. PCOS is also sometimes accompanied by oily skin, dandruff, skin tags, pelvic pain, depression and sleep apnea as well.

If you are diagnosed with PCOS, your provider will likely recommend that you eat a healthier diet (including fewer processed foods), that you exercise more and that you lose weight if you are overweight. These simple at-­home treatments can be effective in managing mild cases of PCOS. If your condition is more severe, your provider may recommend certain medications, such as birth control pills, or surgery.

While missing periods and producing excess male hormones can be unpredictable, annoying and embarrassing, the health risks don’t stop there. Women who have PCOS are also at a greater risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attack and depression. Pregnant women who have PCOS are also at an increased risk for gestational diabetes, premature delivery and miscarriage.

If you are experiencing irregular periods, infertility, weight gain or excessive hair growth, PCOS may be to blame. Speak to your provider for more information, a diagnosis and a treatment plan today.

Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are noncancerous tumors that form on the uterus, most typically during the childbearing years. Uterine fibroids are typically not dangerous and they often come with no symptoms. According to Womenshealth.gov, 20-­80% percent of women will have uterine fibroids before age 50, some without even knowing it.

The majority of women who develop uterine fibroids experience no symptoms at all. In fact, they often don’t even know they have the growths until their provider discovers them during a routine exam.

Among women who do experience symptoms, however, lower back pain, pain during intercourse, heavy menstrual bleeding, an overactive bladder, pressure and fullness in the abdomen, and complications during pregnancy are among the most common. Infertility can be caused by uterine fibroids, but this is very rare.

Because most uterine fibroids are not serious and tend to go away on their own, most providers will initially opt for a “wait and see” approach. If you are experiencing significant symptoms, or if the fibroids don’t go away on their own, your provider may recommend additional treatment options, including medication and surgery. Talk to your provider to find out which treatment option may be best for you.

Women who have heavy menstrual periods often soak through a pad or tampon in an hour for multiple hours in a row, and they often bleed longer than a week. They may pass large blood clots past the first day of their menstrual cycle, and they may suffer additional complications such as tiredness or shortness of breath. Women who suffer from heavy menstrual periods often must double up on sanitary protection, wake up in the middle of the night to change pads or tampons, and miss out on fun activities where they will not have frequent access to a bathroom.

Heavy menstrual periods can be caused by a number of different factors, including a hormone imbalance, uterine fibroids, polyps, uterine dysfunction and cancer. They can also be caused by certain inherited bleeding disorders or medical conditions, pregnancy complications, an intrauterine device and certain medications. Identifying the cause of the excessive bleeding is typically an important step in finding the right treatment method.

In many cases, heavy menstrual periods are treatable and reversible. Providers generally recommend treatments such as oral contraceptives, medications and hormones. For especially serious cases, providers may also recommend dilation and curettage, focused ultrasound ablation or hysterectomy. Providers also commonly prescribe iron supplements to replenish the iron that is lost through the heavy bleeding. Speak to your provider about your symptoms to find out which treatment option may be best for you.

Vaginal prolapse, a type of pelvic organ prolapse, is a medical condition in which a woman’s uterus weakens and falls out of its normal position, causing complications. The condition is not life-­threatening, but it can be quite painful and inconvenient if not treated.

Common symptoms of vaginal prolapse include a pull in your pelvis, pain, pressure, a bulge of tissue protruding from your vagina, and the sensation that something may be falling out through your vagina. Women may also experience painful intercourse, urinary tract infections or difficulty emptying their bladder or bowels. Some women, on the other hand, experience no symptoms at all.

Vaginal prolapse happens when a woman’s ligaments and pelvic floor muscles weaken and sag. This typically happens as the result of childbirth, particularly multiple childbirths, and aging. Factors such as obesity, heredity, physical strain and pelvic surgery can increase a woman’s risk of developing this condition as well.

Women suffering from vaginal prolapse often have several treatment options. Women whose symptoms aren’t severe will likely benefit from non-­invasive treatment options, such as Kegel exercises.

For women who have severe symptoms, pessary devices or surgery are often the most effective and reliable options. There are various procedures available to treat uterine prolapse, including tissue grafts onto the pelvic floor support structures. A hysterectomy may also be deemed a good choice depending on the severity of the woman’s case, and whether she is done having children or has no intention of having children.

Vaginal prolapse may be inconvenient and painful, but the good news is that it is treatable. If you suspect that you have some degree of vaginal prolapse, consult with your provider about your treatment options today.