The Link Between Hysterectomy and Incontinence

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes your uterus. It is an effective treatment for various types of women’s health conditions.

But having a hysterectomy could increase your chances of developing incontinence, a condition in which you leak urine.

Here at Virtuosa GYN in San Antonio, Texas, our caring providers would like you to know the relationship between hysterectomies and urinary incontinence. Understanding the connections between the two can help you make the best decisions about your health and well-being.

A common treatment

Hysterectomy is a commonly performed procedure. Most often, it is used to treat uterine fibroids. In addition, we may recommend it for the following conditions:

• Abnormal bleeding 
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Endometriosis
• Gynecologic cancers
• Uterine prolapse and other pelvic support issues

The type of hysterectomy you receive depends on your medical needs. We may remove only the uterus or the uterus plus the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, and/or other pelvic structures.

Links to incontinence

Incontinence is a condition in which you leak urine. The most common types of incontinence are:

• Stress incontinence (leaking when laughing, sneezing, or doing any activity that puts pressure on your bladder) 
• Urge incontinence (having a strong, sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate) 

Incontinence is quite common in women, especially after menopause, because hormonal changes can affect your bladder.

Although incontinence can have many causes, such as weak pelvic muscles and damage to your bladder, it has also been linked to hysterectomy. One large study found that women who had hysterectomies were more than twice as likely as those who didn’t to require future surgery for incontinence.

But not all women who receive hysterectomies develop incontinence. More research is needed to fully understand the links between the two. 

Minimizing your risk

To keep your risk of post-hysterectomy incontinence as low as possible, we take some important steps at Virtuosa GYN.

We recommend the most conservative treatment that aligns with your health needs. We suggest a hysterectomy only when it is the best option for you and when the benefits of the surgery outweigh any possible risks. 

In addition, whenever possible, we perform hysterectomy using minimally invasive surgical techniques rather than open surgery.

Using the da Vinci® robotic system, we can perform minimally invasive hysterectomies with utmost precision and control. The da Vinci system gives us increased surgical dexterity and enhanced vision, which helps reduce the risk of surgical complications, damage to surrounding tissue and structures, and post-procedure side effects.

After your hysterectomy, we educate you about the steps you can take to prevent or reduce incontinence, such as performing pelvic floor exercises and making lifestyle choices that support urinary health. 

We also provide a full range of effective diagnostic and treatment options for incontinence.

Help for all your symptoms

If you’re experiencing abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, or any other gynecologic symptom, an evaluation can help determine what’s causing your symptoms. After diagnosis, we work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that safely and effectively addresses your condition. 

Call us today to schedule an appointment.