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Treatment options for stress urinary incontinence

Do you leak urine when laughing, coughing or sneezing? Do you feel as though you have to go all the time, or limit your activities for fear of having an “accident”? You may be among the 1 in 3 women worldwide that suffer from urinary incontinence. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and new minimally invasive treatment options to restore bladder control.

What is stress urinary incontinence?

The medical term urinary incontinence simply means “loss of bladder control”.

In the female urinary system, the sphincter muscle is found below the bladder and surrounding the urethra. When it tightens, the urethra contracts and urine is stored in the bladder. When the sphincter muscle relaxes, the urethra opens and the bladder contracts—letting urine flow from the body.	Your Body Before Incontinence

In short, for the bladder and urethra to function correctly, they need to be well supported by pelvic muscles and tissues. When these muscles and tissues are weakened or damaged, what results is urinary incontinence in women.	Your Body With Incontinence

The good news is you don’t have to accept stress urinary incontinence as a normal part of motherhood or the aging process. Women now have a number of minimally-invasive outpatient treatment options to consider that can quickly get them back to a better life.

How can I tell if I have urinary incontinence?

There are several types of urinary incontinence, each with different underlying causes, symptoms, and treatments. This is why it’s important to share your symptoms with a specialist who treats this condition so you can get an accurate diagnosis, and be aware of the latest and best treatment options.

Symptoms of stress urinary incontinence include:

Occasional loss of bladder control with urine leakage, from mild (a few drops) and moderate (wet underwear), to severe (wet outerwear)
Urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending, and/or lifting
Urine loss when changing from a sitting or lying position to a standing position
Continuous urine leakage

What can cause urinary incontinence?

Pregnancy
Trauma
Childbirth
Radiation
Prior Surgery
Muscle damage
Hormone change

Treatment options for stress urinary incontinence

From managing symptoms through behavioral therapy or the use of absorbent products, finding surgical procedures to restore bladder control—there are a range of solutions: They include:

Behavior Therapies — Mild stress urinary incontinence can be potentially managed through behavior therapy. Some women can regain bladder control by decreasing fluid intake, and making regular trips to the restroom.
Pelvic muscle exercises — Also known as Kegel exercises, they strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to improve bladder control.
Protective Undergarments — Absorbent products such as pads and liners absorb leakage, trapping it away from the body and clothing.
Pessary Device — a stiff ring is inserted into the vagina, helping reposition the urethra and prevent urine leakage.
Bulking Injections — Injecting a substance such as collagen can add mass to the urethral lining and help the urethra close more tightly.
Medication — A number of medications can effectively restore bladder control problems related to urge incontinence. However, there are no approved medications currently available to treat stress incontinence.
Minimally invasive treatments — A urethral support sling is one of today’s most successful surgical procedures for stress urinary incontinence. A sling is a narrow strip of soft mesh placed under the urethra to provide support. They’re typically placed during a minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure that has been highly effective for many women. Most patients are continent immediately following the procedure, and can return to their normal activities within a short time. There are many different types of sling procedures. Be sure to discuss all of your options with a specialist.

Click here for more information about urethral support slings

Insurance Coverage

AMS urinary incontinence treatment options are covered by Medicare and most private insurance carriers. For more information, click here.

Who treats urinary incontinence?

Urologists are specialists who deal with the diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, which includes the ureter, bladder, and urethra, and the male reproductive system.
Gynecologists are specialists who deal with the health of the female reproductive system.
Urogynecologists specialize in both female reproductive and urinary tract health.

Click here to find a specialist in your area

Bringing hope to more women every day

AMS (American Medical Systems) is helping to lead the way in women’s health by developing advanced treatment options and procedures. For more information about the treatment of urinary incontinence using solutions from AMS, click here.

Warnings, Precautions and Contraindications

Risks and Precautions: Surgical procedures to correct stress incontinence are not recommended for all patients. You should discuss the benefits and risks of this procedure with your doctor, especially if you have blood coagulation disorders, compromised immune systems, are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant in the future. As with most surgical procedures, inflammation and infection may occur; which may require additional medical treatment. Ask your doctor about which activities to avoid right after surgery, and when you may resume your normal routine.

To locate a specialist near you, click here.

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Common types of urinary incontinence.

Women may experience more than one type of urinary incontinence.

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) – Leaking during physical activity, such as lifting and exercising, or during other instances when sudden pressure is exerted on the bladder, like coughing, sneezing or laughing.
Urge Incontinence – Experiencing an overwhelming need to urinate, even if you just went to the bathroom. Often being unable to hold it long enough to reach the restroom.
Mixed Incontinence – A combination of both stress and urge incontinence.

What about medications for incontinence?

While there are a number of medications for the treatment of urge incontinence, there are no approved medications for treating stress urinary incontinence. Seeing a specialist for an accurate diagnosis will help ensure that your incontinence is treated properly.

Ruling out pelvic organ prolapse

Symptoms of stress urinary incontinence could also be a sign of pelvic organ prolapse. For more information about this condition, click here.