UrologyPhysiciansLocations

About Incontinence

As we age, many people experience some loss of bladder control. Over 13 million Americans have some form of urinary incontinence. Incontinence may occur during exercise, lifting heavy objects, coughing, or sneezing. People may also find that they have trouble “making it” to the bathroom quickly enough.

Don’t let embarrassment over this common problem stop you from getting the help you need. Starling’s Continence Center offers a comprehensive individualized evaluation of each person. We offer many different treatment options, and we’re sure to find the one that is right for you.

Symptoms

Many people experience occasional, minor leaks of urine. Others may lose small to moderate amounts more frequently.

Types of Urinary Incontinence

• Stress incontinence. Urine leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting something heavy.
• Urge incontinence. You have a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. You may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge incontinence may be caused by a minor condition, such as infection, or a more severe condition such as a neurologic disorder or diabetes.
• Overflow incontinence. You experience frequent or constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that doesn’t empty completely.
• Functional incontinence. A physical or mental impairment keeps you from making it to the toilet in time. For example, if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to unbutton your pants
  quickly enough.
• Mixed incontinence. You experience more than one type of urinary incontinence.

When to Seek Care

You may feel uncomfortable discussing incontinence with your doctor. But if incontinence is frequent or is affecting your quality of life, it’s important to seek medical advice because urinary incontinence may:

• Indicate a more serious underlying condition.
• Cause you to restrict your activities and limit your social interactions.
• Increase the risk of falls in older adults as they rush to the toilet.

Treatment Options

There are many different treatment options for incontinence and, together, we will formulate a customized plan of care. Treatments may include:

Behavioral Modification:

Many issues can be resolved easily with simple changes of diet and nutrition. Additionally, pelvic floor exercises, biofeedback, and retraining the bladder can all be used for treatment.

Medication:

We strive to find the right medication, with the fewest side effects, to meet your needs.

Surgical Procedures:

We are proud to offer the most minimally invasive surgical procedures including neuromodulation and Botox.

About Us

Dr. Corlis Archer-Goode and Kerry Rausch, APRN have worked together for more than 15 years to develop the most comprehensive continence center in the area.

Schedule an Appointment Today

The goal of our center is to provide the most up to date and comprehensive care for men and women who experience incontinence. We strive to improve the quality of life for you and your family.

We look forward to working with you!
For more information or an appointment in Newington and New Britain, please call today: (860) 826-4453.

 

Dr. Corlis Archer-Goode, MD

Dr. Archer-Goode is certified by the American Board of Urology. She received her medical degree from Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, and completed her urology training at State University of New York in Syracuse, New York. She treats men and women who suffer from urological conditions including urinary tract infections, enlarged prostate, kidney stones,
interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder, and urinary incontinence. She manages the Continence Center of Starling Physicians and provides a comprehensive evaluation for adults who have problems with voiding dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Kerry Rausch, MSN, APRN

Kerry has her advanced degree as a Nurse Practitioner from Yale University. She is a certified Continence Care Nurse. Her interests and expertise include clinical care for female urological patients, with a focus on care for patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder. 

Dr. Joshua Stein discusses the newest laser treatment option for an enlarged prostrate.

In men, urologists treat disorders related to the epididymis, penis, prostate, seminal vesicles, and the testes. If a man experiences certain symptoms or conditions, it is essential to be seen by a urologist.  

Following is a list of warning signs.

1. Any aspect of male infertility.
   A small percent of male factor infertility is due to testicular cancer. This is often missed by primary care doctors and totally missed when referred to an IVF fertility doctor.
2. Blood in the urine. 
   Hematuria, whether visible (gross hematuria) or only seen under the microscope (microscopic hematuria) is not normal and can be an early warning sign of a bladder or kidney cancer. The work-up is basic, including urine tests, an x-ray or CT scan, and a look inside the bladder with a fiberoptic scope (cystoscopy). Waiting to see if the blood will go away is not smart. Blood that is seen even one time warrants seeing a urologist.
3. An elevated PSA or change in PSA.
   The PSA remains one of the most sensitive indicators of prostate cancer of all tests in medicine. Any elevation raises concerns and must be evaluated. Simply waiting to see how high it goes or how fast it climbs is not smart. And if the PSA starts to climb, even if still within “normal“ levels, the change may suggest cancer. So any change of significance should be evaluated as well.
4. An abnormal prostate exam.
   Any abnormality – firmness, small nodules, or irregularities – may be from a prostate cancer and indicates the need to be seen by a urologist. Likewise, any change from prior exams should prompt a visit to a urologist. This is why it is so important that all men over the age of 40 to 45 get a yearly exam, ideally by the same doctor. If detected early, the cure rate for prostate cancer is high.
5. Any abnormality of the kidney found on x-ray.
   It must be assumed that these are kidney cancers until proven otherwise. Do not let anyone biopsy a kidney mass unless you have seen a urologist. Biopsies of a kidney mass can actually cause more harm, and often do not provide the information desired.
6. A testicular mass or persistent pain.
   Because of the rare chances of having an underlying testicular cancer, any masses, firmness or nodules of the testicle must be evaluated by a urologist. This also includes men with testicular pain that does not resolve within a week or two. If caught early, testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers in humans.

The Urology Team at Starling Physicians is highly skilled at treating the wide range of urinary and reproductive issues facing men today. Drs. Cooper, Stein, Goode and Ceplenski provide exceptional care in New Britain, Newington, Farmington, and Southington. 

Call (860) 826-4453 to schedule a visit.

Source: Adapted from WebMD.

Some people may think that a urologist is only for men. However, urologists specialize in urinary and reproductive systems and can provide valuable advice to help women make well-informed decisions relating to their health.

Here are some pointers on when women should consider seeking the care of a urologist:

Frequent Urinary Incontinence
Incontinence is the inability to control your urinary functions. Over 25 million Americans suffer from some sort of urinary incontinence, and, of that, 75-80% are women. 1 in 4 women over age 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily. If you find you are wearing a sanitary pad with frequency, are avoiding sex for fear of leakage, or are finding that incontinence is interfering with your daily life, a urologist can help. A urologist can help determine the root cause and create a customized treatment plan.

Recurring Urinary Tract Infections
Almost all women will experience a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lives. If you have a UTI for the first time, consult your primary care doctor. Most of the time, simple antibiotics can be used to treat the issue. While cases of urinary tract infections are common among women and can be treated with antibiotics and other measures, recurring UTIs are a sign of a larger issue. If you experience multiple UTIs in a single year, you will want to see a urologist who can diagnose the issue through a culture test, kidney scans, and other measures. Chronic UTIs can cause multiple complications, including premature delivery of babies and sepsis, an inflammatory issue that can be painful and even life threatening. 

Kidney Stones
Small kidney stones that don’t block your kidney or cause other problems can be treated by your primary care doctor. But, if you have a large kidney stone and experience severe pain or kidney problems, your doctor may refer you a urologist.  Treatment depends on the type of stone, how bad it is, and the length of time you have had symptoms. There are a number of different treatments options and a urologist will be able to counsel you on the best approach.

Bladder Discomfort
While a mild discomfort in your bladder warrants a trip to your primary care doctor, ongoing pain in your bladder may require a trip to a urologist. Internal cystitis is one of the most common causes for pain in the bladder, but an expert urologist should be able to diagnose the issue and help you find relief. If the pain in your bladder is so severe that it keeps you from being active or even causes you to miss work, a trip to your urologist may be recommended.

The Urology Team at Starling Physicians understands the needs of women and can help you find relief. Drs. Cooper, Stein, Goode and Ceplenski provide exceptional care in New Britain, Newington, Farmington, and Southington. 

Call (860) 826-4453 to schedule a visit.

1 in 8 Men Will Be Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer

Facts Men Need To Know

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer for men (other than skin cancer) and there are an estimated 3 million new cases a year. Approximately 95% of all prostate cancers are detected when the cancer is confined to the prostate, so treatment success rates are high compared to most other types of cancer in the body. The 5-year survival rate in the United States for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is 99%.  However, it is still a very deadly disease and is the second leading cause of death for men in the US.

The following factors may increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer:

• Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, especially after age 50. More than 80% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older.
• Race/ethnicity: Black men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than white men.
• Family History: A father or brother with prostate cancer means you have an increased risk.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

• A frequent need to urinate, especially at night
• Difficulty starting or stopping a stream of urine
• A weak or interrupted urinary stream
• Leaking of urine when laughing or coughing
• Inability to urinate standing up
• A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation
• Blood in urine or semen

• Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs

During the early phases of prostate cancer, there may be no visible symptoms.  That is why screening for prostate cancer is important. Also, keep in mind that urinary symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cancer. There are other benign diseases of the prostate that can cause similar symptoms.

The good news is that prostate cancer is treatable when detected early. Some types of prostate cancer grow slowly. In some of these cases, monitoring is recommended. Other types are aggressive and require radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or other treatments.

 

To learn about overactive bladder, click here: http://www.botoxforoab.com/

To learn about XIAFLEX™ treatment for Peyronie’s disease, click here: https://peyronies-disease.xiaflex.com/hcp/mechanism-of-disease.php#