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Prairie du Chien, WI - Being unable to control your bladder is a problem, also known as incontinence. It can be frustrating, embarrassing, and not a topic many people tend to talk about. In most cases, however, it's also treatable.

Millions of Americans have urinary incontinence, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, and it's most common in women age 50 or older. But the problem isn't necessarily associated with growing older and can occur in people of all ages.

Incontinence can be caused by a number of factors including:

• Diseases or medical conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, cancer and bladder infections.
• Some medicines, such as diuretics, pain pills, sedatives or cold remedies.
• Conditions such as arthritis, which can make it difficult to reach a bathroom in time.
• Buildup of stool in your bowels.
• For women, weakened muscles around the bladder caused by childbirth, and drying of the skin around the vagina or the urethra—a problem that may be especially likely after menopause.
• For men, an enlarged prostate gland or the effects of prostate surgery.

The Crossing Rivers Health Center for Specialty Care offers proven urodynamic testing and outpatient surgical treatment options for individuals experiencing this condition, as well as robotic-assisted surgical treatment. To learn more about incontinence treatment and other specialty services available in Prairie du Chien, visit crossingrivers.org/specialty.

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