Bladder Control

The UCSF Women's Continence Center provides a comfortable, sensitive environment to treat conditions related to bladder and bowel control. A leader in the field, the center was recognized as an exceptional national model in 2004 with the first annual Continence Care Champion award from the National Association for Continence.

Nearly 85 percent of the 13 million Americans with incontinence are women, but many don't seek help. About 25 percent of women in their reproductive years and 50 percent of women in postmenopausal years experience the condition.

Incontinence is a problem that can be cured or controlled with treatment. Our services include a range of medical, surgical and behavioral therapies as well as social and emotional support to treat conditions such as:

• Mixed incontinence
• Overactive bladder or urge incontinence
• Pelvic floor support problems or prolapse
• Stress incontinence

Our health care providers are world-renowned experts trained to evaluate and treat women experiencing incontinence. They work with each woman to determine the best treatment given individual needs and circumstances. The center also works closely with primary care doctors and nurses, gynecologists and urologists to coordinate care.

Collaborative decision making and patient education are at the core of the program. Our experts are committed to learning more about incontinence, bladder dysfunction and prolapse. A key component of the program is translating research findings about incontinence into patient care. In turn, women receive the most up-to-date information and care available.

See our online form to request an appointment.

Audio Interview — Hear a Patient Power interview with Dr. Sharon Knight, who discusses the causes, diagnosis and treatments of incontinence in women. Knight is a gynecologist at the UCSF Women's Continence Center.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated July 2, 2008