Quick Links: Skip to main page content Skip to Search Skip to Topics Menu Skip to Section Content Menu Skip to Common Links
  • Decrease font size
  • Return font size to normal
  • Increase font size
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Medical Devices

  • Print
  • Share
  • E-mail
-

Stress Urinary Incontinence

 

 

What is Stress Urinary Incontinence?

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a leakage of urine during moments of physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercise. An increase in abdominal pressure associated with these activities causes urine to leak out through the urethra. SUI is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women.

Pelvic tissues and muscles, which support the bladder and urethra, become weak and can result in SUI by allowing the bladder “neck” (where the bladder and urethra intersect) to descend during bursts of physical activity. This descent can prevent the urethra from working properly to control the flow of urine. Also, SUI can occur when the sphincter muscle that controls the urethra weakens. Then, the sphincter muscle is not able to stop the flow of urine under normal circumstances and when there is an increase in abdominal pressure. Weakness may occur from pregnancy, childbirth, aging, or prior pelvic surgery. Other risk factors for SUI include chronic coughing or straining, obesity and smoking.

It is important for women to consult with their health care provider for proper diagnosis of SUI.
 

Front-view illustration of the female bladder control system with labels pointing to urine in the bladder, bladder muscle, bladder neck, sphincter muscles, pelvic floor muscles, urethra and pelvis. 
Image Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

 

 

What are the Treatment Options for Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence?

 

NONSURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS

Examples of nonsurgical treatment options for SUI include:

  • Kegel Exercises: A type of exercise to strengthen the pelvic floor by contracting and relaxing the muscles that surround the opening of the urethra, vagina, and rectum. These exercises improve the muscles’ strength and function and may help to hold urine in the bladder longer.
  • Pessary: A removable device that is inserted into the vagina against the vaginal wall and urethra to support the bladder neck. This helps reposition the urethra to reduce SUI.
  • Transurethral Bulking Agents: Collagen injections around the urethra that make the space around the urethra thicker, thus helping to control urine leakage.

 
SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS

Not every woman with SUI will need surgery. Factors to consider in deciding whether to undergo surgery include:

  • severity of SUI symptoms and degree of impact on daily activities;
  • desire for future children;
  • sexual activity; and
  • whether you also have pelvic organ prolapse.

Surgery to decrease or prevent urine leakage can be done through the vagina or abdomen. The urethra or bladder neck is supported with either stitches alone or with stitches plus a material such as surgical mesh.

Surgical mesh in the form of a “sling” (sometimes called “tape”) can be permanently implanted to support the urethra or bladder neck for the surgical repair of SUI. This is commonly referred to as a “sling procedure.”

The multi-incision sling procedure can be performed in two ways, with one vaginal incision and either two abdominal (retropubic) or two groin/thigh incisions (transobturator). Single-incision mini-slings, requiring only a single vaginal incision, are also used to treat female SUI.
 

 Front-view diagram of the female bladder and sphincter muscles shown in cross-section to illustrate the full bladder and with labels pointing to the bladder muscle, bladder neck, sphincter muscles, ur
Image Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

-
-