Female Voiding Dysfunction and Urinary Incontinence
Female Voiding Dysfunction and Urinary Incontinence Amanda Vo, MD, Stephanie J. Kielb, MD* KEYWORDS Overactive bladder (OAB) Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) Ureterovaginal fistula (UVF) KEY POINTS Urinary continence relies on coordination of the autonomic and somatic nervous systems, in addition to normal lower urinary tract support and sphincter function. Overactive bladder may be treated in a stepwise fashion with behavioral therapies, phar- macologic management, and procedural options. Stress urinary incontinence is most effectively treated with minimally invasive surgical techniques that reinforce urethral support. Urogenital fistulas, although more common in developing countries than in the United States, are extremely distressful to patients and repair often requires larger reconstructive surgery. NORMAL URINARY CONTINENCE AND VOIDING The lower urinary tract (LUT) has 2 main functions, low-pressure storage of urine, then consciously controlled, coordinated emptying. This involves coordination of the auto- nomic and somatic nervous systems. Coordination occurs at the pontine micturition center and the cerebral cortex provides inhibition. Disease states affecting the cortex such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease can, therefore, cause of loss of inhibition, with urinary urgency, frequency, and at times urge incontinence. Neurologic disease below the pontine micturition center can cause a variety of LUT complications, including co- ordination issues which may put upper tract (renal) function at risk; the details of such conditions are complex and are not discussed further in this review. Disclosures: The authors have no disclosures to report. Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 East Chi- cago Avenue, Tarry 16-703, Chicago, IL 60611, USA * Corresponding author.
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