Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

What are stress urinary incontinence?

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common problem experienced by many women. Approximately, 18 million of adults in the U.S. have SUI and 85% of them are women. SUI affects one of three women over 45 years old. 

What are the causes of stress urinary incontinence?

Women develop SUI from changes that happen in pregnancy and childbirth. The pressure from carrying a child and giving birth can weaken the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in the pelvis, resulting to stress urinary incontinence. Menopause can also cause stress urinary incontinence. Since the estrogen that helps to keep the bladder, pelvic muscles, and urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) healthy drops. Chronic coughing, obesity, smoking, aging, constipation, or extreme weightlifting can also cause stress urinary incontinence. Also, genetic may play a role. 

What are the symptoms if you have SUI?

The main symptom of stress urinary incontinence is a leakage of urine during physical activity such as laughing, lifting, coughing, or exercising. The leakage can be as a drop or two, a squirt, or even a stream of urine.

What can be done?

Stress urinary incontinence treatment can be both surgically and non-surgically, depending on the exact nature of the incontinence. As the condition and anatomy of each patient differ, and the outcomes may vary.

Changes to your diet, such as drinking less water and limited caffeine intake can help decrease the occurrence of urine leakage. Non-surgical options include physical therapy, fitness routine, pelvic floor muscle training, and vaginal pessaries.

Traditional mesh slings, single incision mini-slings, retropubic colposuspension, and bulking are among the available surgical options for stress urinary incontinence treatment.

If you have further questions, call Desert Sky Urology to discuss the available options for your condition. For SUI urology or SUI treatment in Phoenix, Chandler & Gilbert, AZ call us today and schedule an appointment.