When Maritza Labinger, 58 of Matawan, New Jersey, was in her 40s, she began experiencing the need to urinate more often. Like many women, she thought this was a natural part of aging, so she resigned herself to living with it.

But by 2022, she couldn’t take it anymore. She was tired of having to zealously monitor her fluid intake and of the ever-present fear of having an accident. “It got to the point where I said, ‘I don't want to live this way,’” Maritza says. “I was just tired of the fear.”

Finally Seeking Help for Overactive Bladder

Her doctor put her on medication for an overactive bladder, but it didn’t work. Frustrated, Maritza was referred to Nina Bhatia, M.D., a urogynecologist at Old Bridge Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center, who specializes in overactive bladders and urinary incontinence.

“The first time I saw Dr. Bhatia, she was very thorough with her explanation, which made me feel very comfortable,” Maritza says. “She explained a lot of things to me that had not been explained previously, and she gave me the options of the different kinds of treatments, which I hadn’t known about.”

It’s common for people to postpone seeking treatment for overactive bladder, Dr. Bhatia says. “Unfortunately, a lot of women think this is a normal part of aging and that you just have to deal with it. There are definitely social stigmas, so people are often reluctant to talk about it openly,” she says. 

Many women cope with the condition by restricting their fluids or making sure they go to the bathroom before they leave the house or wearing pads. “Many women don't really know that this is a very common condition and is treatable and often curable. It's not something you have to live with,” Dr. Bhatia says.

A New Option for Relief from Overactive Bladder

Medications, Kegel exercises, Botox injections and dietary changes are the first line of treatment for an overactive bladder. When medications failed to relieve Maritza’s symptoms, Dr. Bhatia recommended she try sacral neuromodulation.

Sacral neuromodulation treats chronic dysfunction of the urinary, bowel and pelvic floor by helping the brain and the nerves communicate. With sacral neuromodulation, a small device, similar to a pacemaker, is placed under the skin to transmit a mild electrical current to stimulate the sacral nerves, which control a person’s bladder, bowel and pelvic floor.

Sacral neuromodulation is performed in a two-step procedure:

• Step 1: The first step is a basic evaluation to determine if a permanent device will be a good option. During an office based test, without the need for any incisions, the doctor will place a lead near a sacral nerve. The lead is connected wirelessly to a battery to gently stimulate the nerve.
• Step 2: During a minor outpatient procedure, a small device similar to a pacemaker is placed under the skin in the lower back/ upper buttock area to control the nerves of the bladder. No external wires are visible; patients control the device wirelessly with a small remote control. 

Sacral neuromodulation is a treatment that has been around for many decades, but today’s technology makes it one of the most effective treatments of overactive bladder, Dr. Bhatia says. Research has shown that most patients experience an improvement in symptoms with sacral neuromodulation with 93 percent of patients having a significant improvement in their incontinence symptoms.

Life-changing Results from Sacral Neuromodulation

Maritza had surgery in May 2023 to begin sacral neuromodulation treatment. 

“Her particular battery is a newer one, and it's a pretty revolutionary battery in that it's one of the smallest on the market and is the longest lasting battery for this condition,” Dr. Bhatia says. The battery should last 20 years or longer and needs to be recharged only one to two times per year.

Sacral neuromodulation therapy has been life-changing for Maritza. Before and after the procedure, she kept a diary of how much fluid she took in each day and how often she went to the bathroom. Before the procedure, she went to the bathroom 14 times a day; after, six or seven times a day.

“I don't have the fear that I had every day,” Maritza says. “Don't be ashamed if you have this condition. Don't allow stigmas to stop you from seeking treatment.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Nina Bhatia, M.D.
• To make an appointment with a urogynecologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Learn more about urogynecology services at Hackensack Meridian Health.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.