Urinary incontinence surgery can spoken about with your doctors at the Urology Division and the Women’s Center for Continence and Sexual Health at Premier Medical Group. There are several different kinds of urinary incontinence surgeries available to correct urinary incontinence including minimally-invasive procedures. If other treatments, like pelvic floor exercises or medication have failed, surgery may be the best option.
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of bladder control or the inability to control urination. UI is a common condition that affects individuals in different ways. UI can be a minor problem with the occasional leaking of urine when you cough or sneeze. UI can also become more sudden and so strong that you cannot reach a toilet in time. To avoid daily disruption, seek expert treatment as soon as you notice ongoing or worrying symptoms.
There are different types of urinary incontinence and each one has its own underlying causes.
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs when there is stress or pressure on your bladder, which causes you to leak urine. Common stress or pressure on the bladder may occur when you:
Common causes of stress incontinence are:
There are multiple reasons why the muscles may lose strength, particularly in women who experience stress incontinence. These reasons can include:
Urge, or Urgency, Incontinence
Urge incontinence is when you have a strong urge, or need, to urinate that results in involuntary urine leakage before you reach the toilet. It is often connected to having an overactive bladder. Urge incontinence can be a result of:
Certain neurological conditions may also result in experiencing urge incontinence, such as:
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence occurs when your bladder has not fully emptied and retains urine. As a result, your bladder becomes too full and you leak urine. Most commonly, men experience this type of UI. Some of the causes of overflow incontinence are:
Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence is a direct result of a physical or mental disability, or something else that prevents you from accessing a toilet in time. Conditions that cause functional incontinence are:
Mixed Incontinence
Those with mixed incontinence experience more than just one type of incontinence. It typically manifests as a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
Transient Incontinence
Transient incontinence is when there is urine leakage due to a temporary situation, such as:
This particular type of incontinence will go away once the cause of it is removed.
Bedwetting
Urine leakage while sleeping is most common in children, but adults can also experience it. Adults who experience bedwetting may find that it is connected to:
There are several different types of urinary incontinence surgeries available for both men and women. These surgeries are explored when more conservative methods prove ineffective for stress urinary incontinence. Surgery helps provide long-term solutions for urinary incontinence and can also include minimally-invasive procedures.
Sling Procedures
Using a sling is the most common procedure for urinary incontinence. The sling supports the urethra or bladder neck. Your surgeon will discuss with you the benefits and associated risks from using certain surgical materials and different placement approaches. The two types of slings are:
Tension-free sling procedures for women have two safe and effective approaches: a retropubic procedure or a transobturator procedure. Always reach out to a physician about which option is best suited for your individualized care.
Conventional slings require a larger incision than a tension-free sling procedure. The procedure is often reserved for women who had a previous UI surgery but still experience incontinence.
Suspension
Suspension procedures provide support for the bladder neck or urethra. The procedure is done either with:
Since laparoscopic surgery is less invasive, there is a shorter period of recovery. Speak with your physician about its efficacy compared to open surgery since each case is unique.
Male Urethral Slings
Men with mild-to-moderate stress urinary incontinence are strong candidates for male urethral slings. The outpatient procedure enables many men to see post-surgical improvement in their UI symptoms. The majority of men no longer require pads after the surgery.
Artificial Urinary Sphincter
Getting an artificial urinary sphincter may be beneficial for women who had an unsuccessful surgery in the past. The procedure is more invasive for men than a male urethral sling. It is appropriate for men who:
The recovery time for urinary incontinence surgery will depend on the specific procedure. Prior to having a sling procedure, a surgeon may recommend that you set aside two to six weeks for healing before you resume all normal daily activities. Male urethral sling candidates need to be careful for about three months whenever they climb ladders or squat. Significant hip flexing can loosen slings. An artificial urinary sphincter does not activate for about a month until your body has had time to heal. Make sure to avoid heavy lifting and exercise during that time.
Always speak with your physician about recovery times. All time ranges are estimates, but they will vary based upon your overall health and other factors.
Medical treatment plans look different for everyone. Urinary incontinence is no exception. One common non-surgical method that a physician may recommend prior to a procedure is trying behavioral modification, including:
Losing weight can help alleviate extra pressure placed on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles. Smoking may lead to developing a chronic cough and significantly increases the risk of bladder cancer. Quitting smoking will help to alleviate extra strain and bladder irritants from the nicotine.
Some of the other non-surgical methods are:
It is important to keep in mind that although some of the non-surgical treatments can be done independently, you should run any ideas by an expert first. A physician may recommend that you work with a specialized physical therapist, even if only in the beginning. Using pessaries also requires careful monitoring and is not for everyone.
All surgeries have risks that vary based on the specific procedure and individual. Despite being uncommon, potential complications are:
The success rate remains high for urinary incontinence surgery. It is also important to note that inaction can also lead to complications. Not seeking treatment may cause:
It is important to address urinary incontinence as soon as you become aware of it. Talk to a physician who can factor in your medical history and discuss the best next steps with you.