Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) And Treatment

Did you know that millions of women suffer from stress urinary incontinence? It is characterized by loss of urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, lift an object or even get up from a chair.

In women, it's caused by a weakening of, or damage to, pelvic muscles and tissue surrounding the urethra. The urethra is the canal that carries urine from the bladder.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 women suffer from some form of incontinence. So, it is likely that many women you know also have an incontinence problem of some sort. Imagine the sadness of so many women suffering in silence, afraid to discuss it amongst themselves or seek medical treatment.

One of the most important reasons women don't seek medical treatment for their incontinence is that they simply don't know what options are available to them. In our practice, we can't tell you how many times we have heard from patients that it's simply a "taboo" subject, and, as such, incontinence problems have existed and lingered for years and years.

"How do I know if I have incontinence?" is something to which everyone can discover by their answer to the following questions:

  • Do you leak urine unexpectedly?
  • Do you currently wear pads on liners to protect against unplanned leaks?
  • Does the urine loss occur during coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending or lifting?
  • Does the urine loss occur when you change from a sitting or lying position to a standing position?
  • Do you leak urine continuously?
  • Do you have trouble holding your urine as you hurry to the bathroom?
  • Has this urine loss caused you to change your lifestyle?
  • When planning a trip or outing, does the availability of restroom facilities affect your decision?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, please contact us for an appointment to be examined and either confirm or deny a diagnosis of incontinence.

How it works


Gynecare TVT
2 tiny incisions just above the pubic area
Gynecare TVT Obturator System Tension-free Support for Incontinence
2 tiny incisions near the inner creases of the thighs

The Altis® Mini Sling: A Simple Solution

The Altis single incision sling is an innovative next generation technology. Altis expands the stress incontinence portfolio to include a minisling based on the proven product legacy of the Aris TO and Supris RP Systems. Altis allows for a less invasive minisling placement with ease of use and reproducibility based on the introducer, anchors and sling material. (cf. 1) The dynamic adjustability of the sling allows for accurate tensioning and placement of the sling in relation to the urethra. (cf. 1) Like Aris and Supris, Altis is a low elasticity sling. These low elasticity implants allow tensioning, placement and positioning of the sling under the urethra without compression.

 

Frequently Asked Questions


How will the sling be placed in my body?

We will do this during an outpatient procedure. The MiniArc is small and easy to put in place, and no visible external incisions are needed. And, as noted before, several types of anesthesia can be used in conjunction with this procedure.


What can I expect after the sling is placed?

In most cases, you can return home a few hours after we do the procedure. Although there is little-to-no pain associated with the procedure, we may sometimes prescribe a mild pain medication if we feel it is necessary. And, within two weeks you should be able to resume your activities of daily living, except for sexual intercourse, heavy lifting and/or rigorous exercise.


When will I see results?

Immediately following the procedure in most cases. We encourage you to talk to us and ask us more about this minimally-invasive procedure and how it might help you change your life.


What are the risks?

Every surgical procedure presents risks of one kind or another. In this case, urinary tract infections, symptoms of "urgency" and/or difficulty with urination have been reported following surgery. And, if you're pregnant, or planning future pregnancies, we would not recommend this procedure. For additional information on this topic please talk to us and we can go over any and all of your concerns.


What is my next step?

Make an appointment, and, when you're here, ask us about the Mini Arc Sling System and whether or not, based on the other information you provide during your visit (and your examination), it may be right for you.