Over The Counter Bladder Supports
Do you leak urine when you run, jump, skip, hop? How about with coughing, laughing or sneezing? You may be experiencing Stress Urinary Incontinence which has its own full blog here. Stress Urinary incontinence happens when the force in the abdominal canister is not being transferred evenly, causing pee to leak out.
As a Pelvic Health Specialist, I highly recommend specialized physical therapy to help assess your back, rib cage, core and pelvic floor. This can be very helpful in resolving these symptoms. You can click here to find a practitioner near you! But let us hypothetically say that you’ve given Pelvic Floor PT and you’re still experiencing urinary leakage with specific activities.
There are some helper devices out there to give your bladder support so it isn’t leaky with these activities. A Pelvic Health PT can be a great resource in teaching you the indication, use and abilities of each device, but here are some of the options available right now!!
These devices work by giving gentle support to the urethra and bladder to help counteract the downward force exerted by higher pressure activities like coughs, jumps and running.
Option 1: Impressa made by Poise
- Offers a sample kit with 3 sizes
- Disposable
- 8 hour wear time
- Available on Amazon and in some drug stores
- Financial Considerations:
- $2 per use
- $60 per month with daily daytime use
- $720 per year
- Cons: can be uncomfortable to remove due to the fabric material, not environmentally friendly
Option 2: Revive
- Reusable for 1 month
- 12 hour wear time
- Available on Amazon
- Has an applicator and carrying case for easy insertion
- String for removal
- Financial Considerations:
- $35 per month
- $420 per year
- Con: has to be in a proper orientation to function properly – some user learning, moderately friendly to the enviroment
Option 3: Uresta
- Reusable for years due to resin material
- 24 hour wear time (if needed)
- High rates of patient satisfaction and comfort levels
- Financial Considerations:
- $139 one time purchase
- $11.58 per month for first year
- $0.38 per day for the first year
- Con: Needs a script from Gynecologist/ Urogynecologist/ PCP/ Urologist
Option 4: Customized Pessary fit by Urogynecologist
- Only eligible for patients with significant pelvic organ prolapse
- Reusable
- Has to be clinically fitted by a specialist
- Typically has check ups every 3 months
- Hundreds of options
- Covered by insurance
- Cons: trial and error process for fitting – may need multiple visits
Not sure where to start with all of these choices? Send me an email.
Practically Yours,
Dr. Mora