ONLINE SCHEDULING FOR IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS ONLY!

Please email info@amersimd.com

Incontinence

Shamsah Amersi, MD

OB-GYN & Breast Cancer Assessment located in Santa Monica, CA

Millions of women suffer from incontinence from a wide array of causes. Dr. Amersi has extensive experience diagnosing the causes of incontinence as well as providing state-of-the-art treatments to help women from throughout Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA, control their symptoms and feel more confident.

Incontinence Q & A

What causes incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be caused by many underlying issues, including hormonal changes, nerve-related issues and problems affecting the muscles that support or control the urinary tract. Significant weight gain, vaginal birth and some diseases can also cause incontinence to occur. Urinary incontinence can be divided into three primary types:

  • Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder, results in an increased need to urinate, even at night. People who have urge incontinence often must get up several times during the night to use the bathroom.

  • Stress incontinence causes bladder leakage when you sneeze, cough or laugh, or when you participate in some physical activities like exercise or sexual intercourse. Stress incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder become weak or damaged, often as a result of age or hormone changes.

  • Mixed incontinence involves symptoms of both urge and stress types.

How is incontinence diagnosed?

As a leading ob/gyn practice in the Greater Los Angeles area, we can perform tests to determine what's causing your symptoms, including lab tests like blood work or urinalysis and exams that enable us to look inside your bladder or to measure how well your bladder is able to retain urine. The type of testing you need will depend on your symptoms and other factors.

How is incontinence treated?

There are different approaches to treating incontinence, including lifestyle changes, exercise, medication, BOTOX® injections, nerve stimulation and even surgery for some types of incontinence. Before any treatment is performed, we'll conduct a comprehensive exam to ensure we recommend the most appropriate options for your needs.

What is a bladder sling?

A bladder sling is a special medical device that's used to provide additional support to weakened pelvic floor muscles. The sling is implanted in a minimally-invasive surgical procedure, and it can be especially helpful in patients with vaginal prolapse.

 

Ask us about our Holistic Gynecology services.

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

We accept only PPO insurance plans. Below is a short-list of just some of the plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed below.


Aetna
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Health Net
UnitedHealthcare