Life Without Leaks

Dr. Brianne Grogan - or Dr. Bri, as most of her fans know her - is one of the most familiar faces in all of women's healthcare. With nearly 350,000 subscribers on YouTube , almost 20,000 followers on Instagram and an active practice at vibrantpelvichealth.com , she offers videos, courses and coaching for women with pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain and related issues. She's also a leadi...

If you're thinking, "I don't have a problem with bowel incontinence because I don't have explosive episodes," you may not realize just how broad a condition bowel incontinence actually is and all the different issues it encompasses. In fact, by some estimates, 27 million people in America experience some form of bowel incontinence - that's an enormous number of people...

The standard treatment for a UTI is typically an antibiotic, but visiting your doctor to get a diagnosis and a prescription is probably not something you’re really looking forward to. Of course, it’s usually worth it because antibiotics do the trick. They’re far and away the fastest and most effective way to treat your UTIs – but even they don’t come with guarantees. Sometimes they just don’t work...

Stress urinary incontinence, or SUI, is one of the most common types of bladder issues that women face, but there's a lot of confusion about what it is, what causes it and how to treat it. In today's episode, Meredith Wasserman, medical doctor and a fellow in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery in the Department of Urology at NYU Langone Health in New York City, sets the re...

Pelvic floor strengthening devices have produced remarkable results for countless women suffering from incontinence, but it's easy to get confused by all the choices out there. Today we're joined by Shravya Kovela, a physical therapist and business development manager for device manufacturer Flyte, who shares with us important information to help identify which type of device might be ri...

In this edition of Life Without Leaks, we're joined by Melissa Nassaney, physical therapist, women's health educator and founder of Full Circle Pelvic Health in Warwick, Rhode Island. She discusses why physical therapy may be of benefit to women dealing with incontinence, dispels a number of rumors about bladder care and talks about how you can go about finding a physical therapist that&...

We all know that it’s important to get enough nutrients in our diet, and there’s a good chance that a lot of you’re already taking things like multi-vitamins and other supplements. But you might be surprised to learn that there are some vitamins that can actually have an impact on bladder leaks. Join us on this episode of Life Without Leaks to learn about some of the supplements you can take that...

Loyola University and Live UTI Free are recruiting women now for a study on the microbes present in the urinary tract that may be associated with recurrent urinary tract infections. Participation is easy - there's no travel required, and you just need to send in the occasional urine sample.  Dr. Alan Wolfe, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Loyola University, talks with us about w...

On today's episode, we're talking with Dr. Kathleen Kobashi, chair of the Department of Urology at Houston Methodist Hospital, about patients' perspectives on some of the most personal conversations they'll ever have with a healthcare provider. Doctors really do understand just how hard it is to open up about bladder and bowel problems, and Dr. Kobashi shares insights on ways t...

In this episode we talk with Dr. Jannah Thompson, board certified urogynecologist and urologist in private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, about a problem that affects millions of women but that very few are familiar with: Pelvic organ prolapse. It's a condition where your pelvic floor organs start to protrude out of your body. Now that might sound frightening, but Dr. Thompson is here to...

We all know how important Kegel exercises are for pelvic floor health - they can help prevent or delay the start of leaky episodes, and they can help those who are already living with leaks to get their symptoms under control. But we also know that Kegels aren't always easy to do - it's hard to work out muscles that you can't see, and who always remembers to keep up with their routi...

The symptoms of Pelvic Organ Prolapse can range from a modest degree of pressure  in the pelvic region to organs actually protruding from the body. Fortunately, for many women, prolapse doesn't necessarily require treatment beyond being careful to avoid things like heavy lifting. And for those who do need treatment, there are a number of options available, ranging from physical therapy to out...

When Mia Abbruzzese discovered that her mother was struggling with incontinence, the entrepreneur in her realized that there had to be better solutions than what her mom was using - something more skin-safe, easier to use and environmentally friendly. Together with wife Alex Fennell, they founded Attn: Grace with the intention of creating something genuinely new in the world of incontinence care p...

On this episode of Life Without Leaks, we talk with Gerri, a 30-something patient who struggled for years with stomach issues before she discovered that she had Chron's disease. In her own words, she shares how she sought out help, the treatments she tried and how she's doing today. For more information about Chron's disease and other bowel disorders, visit the National Association...

Do you have to see a specialist if you have symptoms of incontinence? What can you do to get the most out of your appointment? Is it helpful or harmful to do your own research online? Today we talk with Dr. Colin Goudelocke, a board-certified urologist who specializes in female urology. He shares helpful insights for those who are just starting to seek care for their bladder issues and for those w...

If you’re living with incontinence, there’s a good chance that one of your biggest concerns is how to pay for incontinence products – they can be costly, especially for people living on fixed incomes or with low incomes. Depending on the severity of your condition, the type of product you prefer and the number of products you use, you can see costs anywhere from $50 to $400 a month. In this episod...

Double board certified urogynecologist Dr. Cary Fishburne shares his insights on a range of topics for anyone living with incontinence or pelvic floor dysfunction, including the state of transvaginal mesh implants, antibiotic resistance, how to make the conversation around personal topics easier, and how it's never too late to seek help - including the story of a 104 year old who was able to...

Dr. Toby Chai is the Chief of Urology at Boston Medical Center, professor and Chair of the Department of Urology at Boston University School of Medicine, and now the recipient of the NAFC's annual Rodney Appell Continence Care Champion award. On today's podcast, he discusses some common misconceptions about what urologists do and who they serve, the obstacles that insurance providers can...

When it comes to controlling bladder leaks, innovation has often been lacking - there haven't been all that many advances beyond behavior modification, dietary changes and Kegel exercises to help you stay dry. At least until now! Technology is increasingly coming to the rescue, with a number of new devices hitting the market that have the real promise of improving your symptoms. One of the mo...

Overactive Bladder - also known as OAB - affects roughly 33 million Americans. While it may not be life-threatening, it can be life-altering. It's symptoms include a frequent and urgent need to use the restroom, waking up several times at night to urinate, and sometimes leakage. It's most common in women, but OAB can also affect men. The good news is that OAB can be treated, and in this...

Overactive Bladder - also known as OAB - affects roughly 33 million Americans. While it may not be life-threatening, it can be life-altering. It's symptoms include a frequent and urgent need to use the restroom, waking up several times at night to urinate, and sometimes leakage. It's most common in women, but OAB can also affect men. The good news is that OAB can be treated, and in this...

For a lot of people with incontinence, rather than trying to find a true cure for their condition, the best way to treat things is with management. There’s physical therapy and Kegel exercises and lifestyle changes, all of which can make a big difference, but the go-to solution for millions of people is to use some form of absorbent product.  But as anyone who’s been looking for adult diapers know...

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we discuss the state of incontinence management and treatment today with Steve Gregg, the executive director of the National Association for Incontinence. For more information about the National Association for Continence, visit us online at NAFC.org .  Music: Rainbows Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License...