Stress Incontinence — a.k.a. Leaky Bladder

HEALTHY FAMILIES

NATHAN BERTOLDO, MD, OB/GYN Valley Women's Health

Many women develop something called stress urinary incontinence as they age. This involves involuntary leakage of urine with many different activities such as exercise, laughing, coughing, sneezing, or jumping on a trampoline. This can be caused by the aging process (decreased collagen production with age), genetic impact on health, pregnancies, weight gain, or a change in hormonal levels. These processes can lead to other common issues that affect urinary continence and daily life, as well as moments of intimacy. It is now possible to treat the issue, as well as prevent it without surgery.

In the past, the mainstay nonsurgical treatment for urinary incontinence was physical therapy for many years (Kegels). Often times for vaginal dryness or irritation, a prescription for hormones was given to patients with hopes the issue would correct itself. Often some improvement was noticed, but it required continued application. Some patients are not candidates for hormones due to other health issues, like breast cancer. Surgery was the last chance at fixing the problem and usually was done at the point that it had progressed to a problematic, prolapsing point. Surgery can be very effective but is definitely invasive in nature. This is where FORMA V comes in and provides the best of both worlds with a noninvasive preventive treatment that almost all women are candidates to receive. Whether you are 6-weeks postpartum or entering menopause, this procedure can help improve your feminine health.

FORMA V is a simple and quick nonsurgical procedure that is changing the lives of women who have experienced vaginal laxity. This consists of Radio Frequency (RF) treatment to internal vaginal tissues to improve collagen production for tightening and increased blood flow. Patients report reduction in stress incontinence/urinary leakage, improved vaginal lubrication, improved stimulation, and tightening of the vaginal canal tissues. This is a revolutionary non-surgical approach to restoring internal and external vaginal and vulvar tissues.

It rejuvenates tissue and alleviates many common symptoms that women experience after childbirth, menopause, aging, cancer treatments, and more. It is a safe and effective way to restore tissue without added hormones.

Vaginal rejuvenation can treat: • Low blood flow and sensitivity • Decrease in sexual interest and self-esteem • Vaginal laxity (stretched out appearance) • Stress urinary leakage with coughing, laughing, or jumping • Vaginal dryness • Sexual dysfunction or pain

PREVENTIVE USE Women can use FORMA V anytime in their adult life to alleviate symptoms; however, one of the most effective ways to use this technology is to have a treatment just 6 weeks after childbirth as a preventive approach. Research indicates that having a preventive treatment can lift the pelvic floor by up to 40% and prevent many of the negative symptoms from occurring, such as bladder leakage, loose tissue, itching or burning, and more. By restoring the health of the tissue, the dryness that many women experience after childbirth can be prevented.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S RIGHT FOR YOU? FORMA V can work well for those who have undergone menopause, those who have given birth, and those who are experiencing symptoms similar to post-menopause because of breast cancer treatments or a hysterectomy. If you are having issues with bladder leakage continued on next page ...

when you exercise, laugh, cough, sneeze, or jump, then you may be a candidate for this procedure. Many patients will notice a difference within one week and sometimes even a few days following the procedure.

WHAT DOES THE PROCEDURE FEEL LIKE? FORMA V uses a radio frequency energy that emits heat so there is virtually no pain. You may feel a mild heat sensation. Most women say it feels like having an annual exam or pelvic ultrasound. There is no downtime with this procedure, which takes about 45 minutes to perform. Many women say they notice improved function right away, with continued improvement over a period of a few months. The full extent of the results can take up to 12 weeks.

For more information about this procedure, or to schedule a free consultation, contact Dr. Bertoldo by calling 435-787-7001 or follow him on Instagram @drbertoldo.

Nathan Bertoldo, MD, OB/GYN

Women's Health • Aesthetics • Wellness

Caring for women through all generations of life!

Accepting New Patients!

Early prenatal appointments available.

Get a complimentary prenatal massage after your initial OB visit!

1515 N 400 E #105 Logan, Utah

Accepting all major insurance plans and self-pay options for uninsured. Serving patients at Logan Regional Hospital and Cache Valley Hospital.

@drbertoldo

/drbertoldo

435-787-7001

IT’S LIKE FAMILY TAKING CARE OF FAMILY: Discount Tire’s Visionary Commitment to Business and Service

EMILY BUCKLEY editor in chief

Discount Tire on Logan’s Main Street has been part of the cityscape of our community for 45 years, leading the way not only in the tire industry, but also in community service. Larry Nicholls and his wife Vickie opened the store during the nation’s bicentennial celebration, on July 7, 1976, when Logan’s population sat at about 25,000 residents.

“We would have opened on the Fourth, but it was a Sunday,” Larry remembers.

In the near half-century since that grand opening, Larry says the building has been through eight remodels, including one this year. This willingness to change and always be planning and preparing for the future is the name of the game for Larry, and his daughter, Christie Stock, who now serves as president of the company.

“Dad is a visionary,” Christie said. “He travels the world looking at business concepts in and out of the tire industry and then brings those ideas home to improve our way of doing business.”

One example of their forward-thinking mentality served them well during 2020’s COVID shutdown: Ten years prior to the unthinkable closures and distancing that were required last year, Discount Tire led the industry in “touchless service.” They had invented an app allowing customers to shop for tires, schedule appointments, and bring their vehicles to be serviced without ever entering the store, a concept that had not been used in tire sales prior to their development.

“It was a blessing to have that technology in place,” Christie said. “Our customers were used to it and it put us in a good position when COVID-19 hit.”

Larry grew up in Garden City. Before he opened Discount Tires and Automotive locally, he worked for a major tire manufacturer for 14 years, moving his family 13 times, and overseeing 500 stores nationwide.

“At one point, I was traveling 5-7 days a week,” Larry said. “I ended up in Southern California and the kids were getting to an age that I wasn’t sure that was where I wanted to raise them; so, we came back home and built our first store in Logan.”

In the years that followed, Larry worked sideby-side with Vickie, who passed away in 2013, to build company-owned retail stores in Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, and at one time had nearly 1,200 franchised locations nationwide. In 2006 they sold the distribution business and Larry “tried to retire,” he said. Steve and Christie Stock and Mike and Billie Glabe with Larry Nicholls.

Four generations of Larry and Vickie Nicholls' family celebrated the grand opening of Discount Tire in Providence in 2000, 24 years after he opened shop on Logan's Main Street.

CACHE VALLEY LOCATIONS:

Discount Tire Logan

885 N Main Street, Logan Discount Tire Providence

110 South Hwy 165, Providence Discount Tire Smithfield

Christie took over as president of the company at that time, and Larry jokes that he is now a low-level advisor — he even made a business card with his title on it — but Christie is quick to refuse that, saying Larry is the true leader of the organization.

“I love working with my dad every day,” Christie said. “He is my mentor and has the amazing gift of making everyone want to be the best version of themselves. He has so much vision; he is always looking ahead.”

Christie said both of Larry’s parents, her grandparents, died by the time Larry was five years old. “He has created his own legacy,” she said. “He built this business from the ground up and taught all of us the importance of giving service to others.”

That value, of service, is one Larry has developed in his family and his associates at Discount Tire alike. “Our philosophy is to take care of our people,” Christie said. “We believe if we create happiness for our people — our associates — then they are going to create happiness and deliver it to our customers. The more we spread kindness, the better off we will all be.” people they taught driver’s safety courses to, or who they supported when they were on high school sports teams, come back as adults buying tires for their kids. “We’ve been here, playing a part in the community, for a long time and it is really fun to see it come full circle.”

The company now employs about 200 people, including three generations of family. Christie and her sister, Billie Glabe, are in corporate leadership positions, while Christie’s son, Josh Stock, is the manager of their Providence location and Billie’s son, Tyler, is his assistant manager. They also have a store in Smithfield.

“Doing business in Cache Valley is like family taking care of family,” Christie says. “To provide a service in the place we grew up and raised our kids, to serve our neighbors and friends, is really amazing. This is a community that rallies together during tough times and supports each other. We are proud to be part of it.”

Larry and Christie are still looking ahead, with expansion plans to support the ever-growing Cache Valley community. “It’s hard to say what comes next,” Larry said. “But we’ll be ready for it.”

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