Incontinence Specialist

Urinary incontinence can cause a significant decline in your quality of life, affecting your social and professional lives and making you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. Embry Women’s Health offers a range of treatments to help women, control or even eliminate symptoms so they can lead happier, healthier lives.

Incontinence Q & A

What is incontinence?

Incontinence is the medical term anytime there is a leakage of bodily fluids. The most common is urinary incontinence or bladder leakage.

Are there different types of urinary incontinence?

Yes. There are three:

  •      Stress incontinence
  •      Urge incontinence
  •      Mixed incontinence

What is the difference?

Stress incontinence is marked by the leakage of urine after coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping or pressure on the pelvis. It is due to structural problems of the uterus pelvic floor bladder and urethra.

Urge incontinence is usually a neurological problem and shows a severe urge to urinate with no time to find a bathroom. This is where the person feels they have to go and if they don’t find a toilet within a few moments they will leak, sometimes quite a lot.

Mixed incontinence is a combination of the two and is the most common type of incontinence.

Are there risk factors?

Yes. The risk factors lead to different types of incontinence. For stress incontinence, a genetically weak pelvic floor is a risk factor. Certain women inherit poor quality collagen, which makes the tissues thin. Another is pregnancy and vaginal delivery. In fact it is common to have stress leakage after birth and during breastfeeding. Age is a very large component as well. As estrogen levels go down in postmenopausal women these tissues thin out and become weak as they need estrogen to maintain strengths.

Urge incontinence is often the side product of other diseases such as diabetes due to the impact on the nerves that control the bladder. As urge incontinence is mainly a nerve problem, anything that affects nerves will affect voiding and this also includes aging.

Mixed is a combination of the two so some structural and some neurological problems are present.

Is there any testing?

It is extremely important that a person that has leakage is tested properly. It begins with making sure there are no old infections, then urodynamics is performed. This is a test where sterile water is placed in the bladder while the patient has electrical measuring devices placed. While the patient voids, it is possible to read the electrical impulses and determine how much of which type of incontinence is present. Sometimes a bladder ultrasound is done as well to look at all of the structures.

Are there treatments?

There are very successful treatments ranging from physical therapy to drug therapy to surgery. Each treatment is carefully designed for a patients unique problem after undergoing all the testing. Several options are then presented, and the patient and providers work as a team.

OUR PATIENTS SAY

I first chose to come to Embry Womens Health because it was near my home and they took my insurance. I’ve been coming back because JoEllen is AMAZING! The whole office is so welcoming and comforting, I’ve moved 20 miles away and I STILL go to see JoEllen for all of my women’s healthcare. I will literally plan my days off around an appointment so I can continue being a patient here.
I can’t say enough good things about Embry Women’s Health and hope to be able to be a patient for life!

5 Stars – Yelp – 11/13/2019

MAGGIE S.

I still love this place. It’s my second year as a patient here, and they still treat me so well. Every concern that I had was taken seriously and my doctor gave me some things to help with a couple of them. The office also isn’t really cold (which I’ve found to be a problem at some offices) so you won’t be freezing during your exam. She’s definitely the best doctor I have been to and recommend to every woman to look into coming here. Also, all of your test results are available online through a patient portal, and you can also schedule new appointments and fill out all of your patient information forms ahead of time on there. This makes checking in for your appointment super quick and easy.

5 Stars – Yelp – 10/31/2019

SHANA E.

This was my first visit at this office and it was so much better then a visit I’ve had at a different gynecologist. The ladies were genuinely friendly and helpful and all very knowledgeable. They make you feel comfortable and safe. It’s so hard to find a gynecologist that fits your needs and I’m very happy to say I found mine.

5 Stars – Yelp – 4/10/2018

KELLY M.

Insurance

Embry Women’s Health is committed to providing quality, affordable health care. We’re in-network with all major insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare. No insurance? No problem. We offer a simple fee schedule for those who wish to pay out-of-pocket. Click the button below for our complete list and more information:

Embry Women’s Health is no longer accepting insurance and will be a self-pay practice. We understand that our decision to no longer accept insurance may come as a disappointment. However, we carefully deliberated and concluded that this change was in the best interest of our practice.

Self Pay Prices:

New Patient Appointment: $200

Established Patient Appointment: $100

Self Pay Package Pricing coming soon!

If you have insurance, we will still send your information to any laboratories so they can still bill your insurance for testing.

TESTIMONIALS

Words from our patients

JoEllen is AMAZING! Not only is she professional- she makes your whole experience comfortable. If you’re looking for a professional that never judges your situation and treats you very well- I would definitely recommend this office!

5 Stars – Yelp

Patient Image Yelp Layna HLayna H., Yelp

It is refreshing to meet a practitioner who sees the whole patient and not just a series of symptoms. JoEllen is willing to spend the time to ask questions and really listen to the responses. I have seen JoEllen several times and I have always appreciated how much time she spends with each appointment and her pragmatic approach with solutions.  I feel like my health drives the appointment and not the schedule. Finding JoEllen’s practice was like finding a needle in a haystack, a caring practitioner who encourages patients to listen to their bodies and to be their own best advocate.

5 Stars – 10/11/2018

Patient Image Kathy NKathy N., Yelp

Friendly staff. JoEllen is incredibly kind, patient and answers all of my questions whenever I see her. I don’t feel like I am being rushed when I am there, it is very nice.

5 Stars – 10/4/2018

Patient Image Ashley DAshley D., Yelp

I was super impressed. NP Eva was wonderfully personable and professional. Front desk staff (thanks, Mia) was kind and thoughtful. They have snacks and drinks in the waiting room. It’s super clean and the view is lovely. It sits right on the lake at Dobson Ranch.

5 Stars – 5/24/2021

“I started seeing Joellen earlier this year and I have had nothing but good experiences every time I have gone back. She is very down to earth and listens to any concerns. I would highly recommend Embry Womens Health.”

5 stars – 09/28/2018

Patient Image Jeannie DJeannie D., Yelp