This condition, known as stress urinary incontinence (SUI), affects millions of women, especially after childbirth, menopause, or pelvic surgery. At Complete Healthcare for Women in Richland, WA, Dr. Richard Lorenzo, D.O., and Kortney Jones, ARNP, are dedicated to helping women manage SUI with personalized, non-surgical treatment options that restore confidence and improve quality of life.
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when physical movement or pressure—such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting—puts stress on the bladder and causes unintentional leakage. It happens when the pelvic floor muscles and urethral sphincter are weakened or stretched, making it harder to control the flow of urine.
Although SUI is not typically harmful to your health, it can greatly affect your emotional well-being, relationships, physical activity, and daily comfort.
Several factors contribute to the development of stress urinary incontinence, including:
Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth
Menopause and hormonal changes
Pelvic surgery or trauma
Chronic coughing or obesity
Genetic predisposition
SUI can affect women at any age but is more common as the pelvic floor weakens over time.
The good news is that many women can significantly improve or resolve stress incontinence without surgery. At Complete Healthcare for Women, we offer a variety of evidence-based, non-invasive therapies tailored to your individual needs.
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles is often the first and most effective step in managing stress incontinence. Kegel exercises, when done correctly and consistently, can improve bladder control by toning the muscles that support the bladder and urethra.
Pelvic floor physical therapy with a trained specialist can help ensure you're engaging the correct muscles and using proper technique. Therapy may also include biofeedback or electrical stimulation to help retrain the muscles.
Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in reducing or eliminating leakage:
Weight management: Even a modest reduction in body weight can reduce pressure on the bladder.
Avoid bladder irritants: Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, and acidic foods.
Timed voiding: Establish a regular schedule for urination to reduce urgency.
Smoking cessation: Reduces chronic coughing, which can aggravate SUI.
Kortney Jones, ARNP, works closely with patients to identify personal habits that may contribute to symptoms and develop a practical plan to address them.
For postmenopausal women, vaginal estrogen therapy can restore the strength and elasticity of the vaginal and urethral tissues. Thinner, less lubricated tissues are more prone to incontinence, and localized estrogen treatment may improve tissue tone and bladder control.
This low-dose treatment is applied directly to the vaginal area and does not carry the same risks as systemic hormone therapy.
At Complete Healthcare for Women, we are proud to offer the BTL Emsella®, an innovative, non-invasive treatment for stress urinary incontinence. This FDA-cleared device uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate deep pelvic floor contractions—equivalent to performing thousands of Kegels in a single session.
Patients sit fully clothed on the Emsella chair for about 30 minutes, twice a week for several weeks. Most women experience improvement after just a few sessions, with no downtime or discomfort.
Dr. Lorenzo and Kortney Jones have seen remarkable outcomes using Emsella therapy, particularly in women who have not had success with exercises alone.
Every woman’s experience with stress incontinence is different, which is why individualized care is so important. At Complete Healthcare for Women, Dr. Richard Lorenzo, D.O., and Kortney Jones, ARNP, offer comprehensive evaluations and customized care plans that prioritize your comfort, lifestyle, and personal goals.
Whether you prefer conservative therapies, are curious about Emsella, or need a combination approach, we’re here to support you—judgment-free and with clinical excellence.
Take control of your bladder health and rediscover your confidence. Schedule your consultation today to explore non-surgical solutions for stress urinary incontinence.
Complete Healthcare for Women – Obstetrics and Gynecology
509-392-6700
Richard Lorenzo, D.O.
Kortney Jones, ARNP
