Fellowship-Trained Urogynecologist
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Green Bay, Wisconsin
✓ Medically reviewed May 15, 2026
When should I see a doctor for urinary incontinence?
If bladder leakage is bothering you, it’s worth talking to a specialist. There’s no minimum amount of leaking that “qualifies.” If it affects your daily life, your confidence, or what you choose to do, you deserve help.
Signs it’s time to seek help
- You’re wearing pads or liners as a precaution
- You’ve stopped doing things you enjoy, like exercise, travel, or social outings
- You plan your day around bathrooms
- Leaking is getting worse or happening more often
- You wake up more than once a night to urinate
- You get sudden, strong urges that are hard to control
- You keep getting urinary tract infections
- Leaking is affecting your relationships or self-confidence
Why sooner is better than later
Up to 75% of women with incontinence never bring it up with a doctor. That’s a lot of people living with something treatable. Over time, symptoms usually get worse. A problem that might respond to pelvic floor physical therapy today could need more involved treatment down the road.
The earlier we evaluate your symptoms, the more options you have. I’ve had patients tell me they wish they’d come in years earlier. Not because they needed surgery, but because a few sessions of physical therapy changed their daily life.
What kind of doctor should you see?
Your primary care doctor or OB/GYN can talk with you about incontinence. But a urogynecologist has the most focused training in this area. We complete a 3-year fellowship after OB/GYN residency (or a 2-year fellowship after urology residency) dedicated to pelvic floor problems, including all types of incontinence. Fellowship-trained urogynecologists are more likely to offer the full range of treatment options and perform quality-of-care steps like a complete pelvic exam, bladder testing, and cystoscopy when needed.
We don’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Treatment is a conversation. We talk through your goals, your symptoms, and what matters most to you, then build a plan together.
What happens at your first visit
It’s normal to feel nervous, and we go at your pace. A typical first appointment includes:
- A conversation about your symptoms, health history, and goals
- A pelvic exam
- Sometimes a urine test
- A discussion of what’s going on and what your options are
You may be asked to fill out a bladder diary before your visit. This is a simple log of when you drink, when you go to the bathroom, and when you leak. It gives us a clear picture of your pattern.
I know it takes courage to make that first call. Most of my patients feel relieved once they’re here. They feel heard, and they learn that real options exist.
No referral is needed. You can schedule directly.
References
- Sanses TVD, Zillioux J, High RA, et al. Evidence-informed, interdisciplinary, multidimensional action plan to advance overactive bladder research and treatment initiatives. Urogynecology. 2023. doi:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001274
- Lukacz ES, Santiago-Lastra Y, Albo ME, Brubaker L. Urinary incontinence in women: a review. JAMA. 2017. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.12137
- ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins-Gynecology, American Urogynecologic Society. Urinary incontinence in women (ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 155). Obstet Gynecol. 2015. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001148
- Erekson E, Whitcomb EL, Kamdar N, et al. Performance of perioperative tasks for women undergoing anti-incontinence surgery. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2023. doi:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001392
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