Patient Information
There are treatments options !
Involuntary leakage of urine, also known as urinary incontinence, affects women of all ages. While it more frequently occurs in older women, incontinence is not a necessary result of getting older. And more importantly, incontinence is treatable and is usually curable. You don’t have to live with the effects of incontinence.
What is Stress Urinary Incontinence ?
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common type of urinary incontinence. It is the sudden, accidental loss of urine that occurs during normal, everyday activities. You may have SUI if you leak urine when you sneeze, cough or laugh, when you stand up, when you exercise, or when you lift items. There are other types of urinary incontinence. Your physician will be able to determine if your leakage problems are the result of SUI after learning your medical history and conducting a physical examination. Your physician may perform special tests to evaluate your bladder and urethral function.
What are common treatments ?
Pelvic muscle strengthening
Pelvic floor exercises, commonly referred to as Kegel exercises, will most likely be one of the first treatment options recommended by your physician. Depending on the severity of your SUI, Kegel exercises may not be sufficient to alleviate your symptoms. Kegel exercises may be combined with :
- Pelvic muscle stimulation – mild electrical stimulation to help automate the process of performing Kegel exercises. Stimulation generally applied using a home-use device.
- Biofeedback – a process using visual or auditory signals to assist targeting the right muscle during exercise.
Medications
Some types of urinary incontinence may be treated with drugs that affect the bladder and urethral muscles, thereby preventing leakage. Hormone therapy, such as estrogen creams, may also be effective in helping to improve pelvic floor muscle function.
Minimally-invasive “sling” procedure
During the past ten years, innovations in surgery led to the development of a simple, less invasive surgical procedure to treat SUI. This procedure involves implanting a “sling,” a narrow strip of a permanent material to support the urethra. Many studies document that this type of procedure has an 80–90% success rate, with follow-up as long as 7 years.
How is the I-STOP sling inserted ?
The insertion of the I-STOP sling requires three very small incisions. Your surgeon will create a small incision in your vagina to introduce the sling into the body. During surgery, the sling is placed under your urethra for support. Two additional incisions will allow your surgeon to secure the sling in place. The procedure generally takes less than half an hour. Your physician will monitor your ability to pass urine before you go home.
How does an I-STOP sling work ?
The I-STOP sling is designed to cradle your urethra, making it close more tightly and preventing involuntary urine loss. Even when there is increased pressure on your bladder, your urethra will be able to remain closed because of the support provided by the I-STOP sling. In essence, the I-STOP sling supports your urethra to provide the support that your body is missing due to weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues.
Why does Stress Urinary Incontinence occur ?
SUI occurs when the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body, does not remain sealed until it is time to urinate. The most common cause of SUI is a weakening of muscles in the pelvic floor. When the pelvic floor is strong it supports the urethra, ensuring that it remains closed and in the correct position until it is time to urinate. When the muscles in the pelvic floor are weakened, there is insufficient support for the urethra. As a result, any increased pressure to the bladder, such as coughing, may cause the urethra to lose its seal and allow urine to escape. SUI may also be caused
by deficient sphincter muscles in the urethra which do not hold the urethra closed until it’s time to urinate. Various factors may contribute to SUI, including pregnancy and childbirth, chronic heavy lifting or straining, estrogen deficiency or menopause, and obesity. Talk to your physician to learn more about Stress Urinary Incontinence and the available treatment options.
