Renowned urologist Dr. Richard Graham and menopause practitioner Dr. Ellamarie Russo-DeMara, both of the Twin River Health Center in White River Junction, will offer a free talk on urinary incontinence on Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Montshire Museum.
Titled “Incontinence: Leaking the Truth about Options,” the talk aims to demystify the ailment for both men and women, explain some of the reasons incontinence occurs and discuss the many treatment options available.
“Forty percent of women over age 50 have some kind of bladder incontinence,” says Dr. Graham, who has performed surgeries all over the world and recently penned a book chapter on incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is an involuntary leakage of urine. It can affect everyone from women of childbearing age to post menopausal women to older men. Men often suffer incontinence due to prostate issues or following prostate surgery.
While common, incontinence often goes unreported to health care providers and can have huge cost ramifications for patients trying to deal with a leaking bladder.
“More money is spent on incontinence than dialysis and heart surgery combined,” Dr. Graham says.
The Jan. 10 talk will speak to the variety of reasons incontinence can occur, including – for women – menopause.
“Women do find themselves estrogen deficit, which can lead to incontinence or can worsen existing incontinence,” says Dr. Russo-DeMara, a gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner.
The talk will also look at treatment options.
Those can include everything from lifestyle changes, physical therapy and medication to surgery. “There is help available,” Dr. Graham stresses.
The providers also hope to take the embarrassment out of the equation so the many people suffering with incontinence can find help, and get back to life.
“It’s something patients should feel comfortable talking to their provider about,” Dr. Russo-DeMara says.
The talk is expected to last an hour. Presentations from the doctors will be followed by a question and answer period. The free presentation and discussion will be held in the Porter Community Room on the first floor of the Norwich museum off Interstate 91’s Exit 13.
RSVP to the Twin River Health Center at (802) 296-7370.
