Urgency Incontinence, caused by urgency and frequency affects over 33 million Americans. That’s about 1 in every 6 adults. The condition is often treated by Behavioral Modification / Training or Medications. A recent study in the Journal of Urology found that adding behavioral training to drug therapy does not improve outcomes for women with urge incontinence.

Behavioral training — focusing on urge suppression, pelvic floor muscle training and self-monitoring – is very effective, and patients are usually very satisfied, but it’s generally not combined with drug therapy, according to lead author Dr. Kathryn L. Burgio of the Birmingham VA Medical Center, Alabama, and colleagues.

The authors had theorized that because the two approaches “may work by different mechanisms they potentially have additive effects,” but that turned out not to be the case.

“When initiated concurrently, behavioral and individualized drug therapy together did not yield better outcomes than drug therapy alone,” the researchers say.

In light of these findings and given the effectiveness of each treatment alone, the researchers conclude, “it seems most reasonable to start with a single approach and add the alternative treatment selectively in women who are not satisfied with the results.”

J. Kyle Mathews, MD

Plano Urogynecology Associates

Plano OBGyn Associates

Tags: behavior changes, different, effects, frequency, Incontinence, kyle mathews, pelvic floor, Plano Urogynecology Associates, urge incontinence, urgency, Urgency incontinence, women | Category: Bladder Dysfunction, News & Education, Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery & Urogynecology |