Incontinence Specialist in Orland Park: What to Know

If you are searching for an incontinence specialist in Orland Park, you may be dealing with leaks, sudden urges, or uncertainty about which kind of clinician can help. These symptoms are common, but they are not something you have to dismiss as an inevitable part of aging or childbirth. A focused evaluation can help identify the type of incontinence and clarify what options may fit your health and goals.

Request a Consultation

What kind of specialist evaluates incontinence?

Incontinence means a loss of bladder or bowel control. Urinary incontinence may involve leakage with a cough, laugh, sneeze, or movement; a strong urge that is difficult to delay; or a mix of patterns. Fecal incontinence is accidental loss of stool or gas. The words can feel difficult to say out loud, but describing what happens is a useful first step toward getting the right kind of assessment.

The pattern can offer useful clues, though it cannot confirm a diagnosis by itself. Leakage during a cough or exercise is often described as stress incontinence. A sudden, hard-to-delay need to urinate followed by leakage is often described as urge incontinence. Some people experience both patterns, known as mixed urinary incontinence. Others notice frequent trips to the bathroom or waking at night without leakage. These details help a clinician ask more focused questions; they do not mean you need to identify your own condition before making an appointment.

A urogynecologist is a physician with specialized training in conditions involving the pelvic floor and lower urinary tract. The U.S. Office on Women’s Health explains that urinary incontinence may be evaluated by a urologist or a urogynecologist, among other clinicians: Urinary incontinence information from the Office on Women’s Health. The specialist you need depends on your symptoms, medical history, and what systems may be involved.

At Pelvic Health Institute of Illinois, an independent, physician-owned practice serving South and Southwest Suburban Chicagoland, bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor concerns are considered in relation to one another. Dr. Lisa L. Johnson is board-certified and fellowship-trained in urogynecology. She personally evaluates patients, develops treatment plans, and performs procedures; patients are not passed among a rotating panel. The practice cares for women and men, including patients seeking care for urinary symptoms and anorectal concerns.

Learn more about urogynecology care or review the practice’s conditions treated to see the range of concerns that may be discussed.

How can someone in Orland Park find an incontinence specialist?

Start by looking for a clinician whose training and scope match the symptoms you want evaluated. If you have urinary leakage or urgency, a urogynecologist may be an appropriate specialist to ask about. If bowel leakage or anal symptoms are also present, tell the office; a whole-system view may help the clinician understand the full picture rather than treating each symptom as unrelated.

Location matters, too. Pelvic Health Institute of Illinois has an Orland Park office, along with offices in Oak Lawn and Oak Brook. When arranging care, confirm which office is appropriate for your visit and ask the team about appointment logistics. To request an appointment, use the practice’s consultation page. You can also call the practice at (708) 499-9800.

It can help to evaluate a practice using more than distance alone. Consider whether the clinician regularly assesses the type of symptoms you have, explains the evaluation in plain language, and discusses conservative approaches as well as procedures when appropriate. You should be able to ask questions without feeling rushed or judged.

Before calling or sending a consultation request, decide what you most need to know. For example, you might ask whether the practice evaluates the type of leakage you experience, which location to choose, what information to bring, and how follow-up is arranged. If symptoms involve both bladder and bowel control, mention both when you contact the office so the team can guide you toward the right appointment. You do not have to give a detailed account to the scheduling team; a simple description such as “urine leaks when I cough” or “I have sudden urgency” is enough to start.

What should you look for when comparing care?

Before you choose where to start, think about what you need from the visit. A patient with urine leakage only during exercise may need a different conversation from someone with sudden urgency, repeated nighttime trips to the bathroom, or bowel leakage as well. The table below offers questions to use when comparing care options. It is not a scorecard or a substitute for an individual medical assessment.

For this practice, care is conservative-first: behavioral changes and pelvic floor exercises may be discussed, followed by medication or office-based treatments when suitable. Surgery is one option, not the automatic starting point, and is considered only when clinically indicated. The right sequence depends on your symptoms, findings, overall health, and preferences.

When comparing the answers, look for a process that leaves room for your priorities. One person may want to return to walking or exercise with fewer interruptions. Another may be most concerned about sleeping through the night, getting to work without mapping every restroom, or avoiding leaks while caring for family. State the activity you want to make easier. It gives the clinician a concrete way to discuss whether a proposed option is helping and what a reasonable follow-up plan might look like.

What happens during an incontinence evaluation?

An evaluation usually begins with a conversation. The clinician may ask when leakage occurs, how often it happens, whether you feel urgency first, and how symptoms affect activities such as exercise, sleep, travel, or work. Be as specific as you can, but do not worry if you do not have every detail. There is no required way to describe symptoms.

It may help to keep a brief record before the appointment. Note the approximate time of leaks or urgent episodes, what you were doing, drinks or medicines that may be relevant, and whether you also have pain, constipation, or bowel symptoms. A short symptom diary is a memory aid, not a test you need to pass. Do not delay care because you have not kept one.

A useful record does not need to be complicated. For a few typical days, you might jot down the time, whether the episode involved a leak or just urgency, what you were doing, and any effect on your plans. If a pattern is hard to track, simply write down one or two examples you remember. Avoid changing your usual routine just to create a “better” diary; the goal is to describe your experience as it normally happens. Bring the notes if they are useful, but the clinician can still begin an evaluation without them.

The clinician will review your health history and may recommend an examination or tests based on your situation. Testing is not identical for every person. You can ask what a test is intended to clarify, what it involves, and whether there are alternatives. You may ask the clinician to explain or pause during an examination.

Questions you may want answered include: What are you trying to learn from this test? Will I need to prepare in a particular way? What might the result change about the plan? If an examination is recommended, you can ask what will happen before it begins and tell the clinician if you feel uncomfortable. You remain part of the decision-making process throughout the visit.

After the assessment, the clinician can discuss what the findings may mean and what to do next. A diagnosis is not always made from one symptom alone. For an overview of urinary incontinence and its different patterns, see the practice’s condition information. If sudden urgency is a major concern, its page on overactive bladder may also help you prepare questions.

Which treatment options may be considered?

Treatment depends on the type of incontinence, possible contributing conditions, and what matters to you. A care plan may begin with practical changes and progress to medication, an office-based procedure, or surgery if needed. Not every person needs every step, and some options may not be suitable for a particular patient.

A practical plan should connect the option to the symptom it is meant to address. Ask what change you might reasonably look for, how long to try an approach before reviewing it, and what the next step could be if it does not help enough. This helps prevent a list of treatments from feeling abstract. It also gives you a chance to discuss barriers, such as a schedule that makes a routine difficult or another health condition that affects which options are appropriate.

Behavioral approaches

Depending on the symptom pattern, a clinician may discuss changes to fluid timing, bladder habits, or other daily routines. Bladder training may involve gradually building a more predictable schedule, with guidance suited to your health and abilities. Pelvic floor exercises may be considered for some people, but technique and appropriateness matter; ask the clinician whether they fit your condition rather than assuming that one exercise plan works for everyone.

For example, if urgency is the main issue, the clinician may want to understand how often you are going and whether you can gradually adjust bathroom timing safely. If leakage happens with exertion, the conversation may focus on what activities bring it on and which strategies are reasonable for you. These are individualized discussions, not instructions to ignore urgency, restrict fluids without guidance, or push through discomfort. Tell the clinician if a suggested change makes symptoms worse or is difficult to maintain.

Medication

Medication may be an option for some forms of urgency or overactive bladder. A clinician can explain the intended benefit, possible side effects, interactions with other medicines, and how progress will be reviewed. Tell the clinician about your current medications and health conditions, and do not stop or change a prescribed medicine without discussing it with the prescribing professional.

If medication is proposed, ask when to expect a check-in and what to do if you notice a side effect or no improvement. Bring an up-to-date medication list, including supplements, rather than relying on memory. This makes it easier to consider interactions and choose a plan that fits your medical history. The right choice is individual; a medicine that helps one person may not be appropriate for another.

Office-based procedures and surgery

When conservative approaches are not enough or the evaluation points to another option, an office-based treatment or a surgical procedure may be discussed. The appropriate choices vary by diagnosis. Ask what the procedure is intended to address, what alternatives exist, what risks and recovery considerations apply, and how follow-up will work. A recommendation should be explained in language you understand, with time to consider it.

You can ask for the options to be compared side by side: what each is designed to treat, what the visit or recovery involves, and what follow-up may be needed. Also ask whether there is a reasonable period to think about the decision or seek clarification. A consultation is a chance to understand possibilities, not a commitment to proceed with a procedure. Treatment decisions should reflect the evaluation, your health, and your preferences.

Urinary symptoms can occur alongside other pelvic conditions. For example, a clinician may assess whether pelvic organ prolapse is relevant to your symptoms. If bowel leakage is also happening, mention it; fecal incontinence is another concern that deserves a direct, respectful conversation. You do not need to decide which symptoms are connected before asking for care.

How can you prepare for a consultation?

A little preparation can make the visit feel more manageable. Consider writing down:

• What happens, when it began, and how often it occurs.
• Whether leakage follows a cough, movement, or sudden urge, or happens without warning.
• Any bowel symptoms, pelvic pressure, pain, urinary infections, or changes in daily activities.
• Medicines, supplements, and relevant health history.
• Your main goal, such as fewer leaks during exercise, better sleep, or understanding the cause.

It can also help to write down the two or three questions you most want answered. You might ask what the clinician thinks could be contributing, which options are reasonable to consider first, and how you will know whether the plan is helping. If you have tried something already, note what you tried and what happened. A brief description is enough; there is no need to prepare a polished medical history.

You can also bring a support person if that would help you feel comfortable. Ask how your information will be used and what to expect at the appointment. The practice’s patient resources and team information may help you get oriented before contacting the office. If insurance questions are relevant, use the practice’s insurance information page and ask its staff to clarify your individual situation; coverage depends on your plan and circumstances.

When should symptoms be checked promptly?

Do not assume that new or changing symptoms are simply part of aging. Contact a health professional when leakage is persistent, getting worse, limiting daily activities, or accompanied by other symptoms that concern you. Seek urgent medical advice for severe symptoms or signs that may indicate an emergency, such as inability to urinate, severe pain, fever with feeling very unwell, or significant blood in the urine. A clinician can help determine the appropriate level of care for your situation.

People sometimes wait years because discussing bladder or bowel symptoms feels embarrassing, or because they have been told nothing can be done. You deserve to have the concern heard. A first appointment does not commit you to a procedure; it is an opportunity to explain what is happening, ask questions, and understand possible next steps.

Schedule with Dr. Johnson

Frequently asked questions

Is urinary leakage a normal part of getting older?

Urinary leakage becomes more common with age, but it is not something you must accept without asking about care. An evaluation can help identify the pattern and possible options. If symptoms affect your life, it is reasonable to bring them up with a clinician.

Should I see a urogynecologist or another kind of clinician?

The right clinician depends on your symptoms and medical history. A urogynecologist specializes in pelvic floor and lower urinary tract conditions, while other clinicians may also evaluate urinary problems. If you are unsure, describe your symptoms when requesting an appointment and ask whether the practice is an appropriate place to start.

Does an appointment mean I will need surgery?

No. Evaluation is about understanding the symptoms and discussing the options that may fit. Conservative measures, medication, office-based treatments, or surgery may be considered depending on the findings. Surgery is not the automatic first step.

Can I ask about bowel symptoms during a bladder visit?

Yes. Bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor symptoms can overlap, so sharing the whole picture may help the clinician understand your concerns. Mention any bowel leakage, constipation, rectal symptoms, or pelvic pressure, even if those issues feel separate.

How do I request care at the Orland Park office?

Use the practice’s consultation request page or call (708) 499-9800. Tell the team that you are seeking an evaluation for incontinence and ask which location is right for your appointment.

What should you remember?

An incontinence specialist can help identify the pattern behind urinary leakage or urgency, explain whether related pelvic concerns should be assessed, and discuss a treatment plan that fits your situation. You do not need to wait until symptoms become severe or have all the answers before asking for help.

Request a Consultation

Pelvic Health Institute of Illinois has an office in Orland Park and provides a clear, physician-led path to discuss your symptoms and possible next steps.