FLORIDA — BACKGROUND: In stress incontinence, the sphincter pelvic muscles, which support the bladder and urethra, are weakened. The sphincter is not able to prevent urine from flowing when pressure is placed on the abdomen (such as when you cough, laugh, or lift something heavy).
Stress incontinence may occur from weakened pelvic muscles that support the bladder and urethra or because the urethral sphincter is not working correctly. Weakness may be caused by
-Childbirth
-Injury to the urethra area
-Some medications
-Surgery in the prostate or pelvic area
-Stress urinary incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women.
(Source: www.nlm.nih.gov)
TREATMENTS: Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and how much they affect your everyday life.
Your health care provider may ask you to stop smoking (if you smoke) and avoid caffeinated beverages (such as soda) and alcohol. You may be asked to keep a urinary diary, recording how many times you urinate during the day and night, and how often you leak urine.
There are four types of treatment for stress incontinence:
-Behavior changes
-Medication
-Pelvic floor muscle training
-Surgery
(Source: www.nlm.nih.gov)
"BODY HEAL THYSELF": Findings from a multi-center trial led by researchers at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. may give urologists another minimally invasive treatment option for women with stress urinary incontinence. The study showed that treating a woman with her own muscle-derived cells was both safe and effective. Unlike surgical treatments, this procedure takes place in a physician's office.
“This was an incredibly safe method of treatment. There were no significant side effects,” explains Dr. Kenneth Peters. “Also noteworthy, is the majority of patients treated had a significant improvement in their urinary leakage and up to 60 percent of the women became dry, leading to an improved quality of life. Because of the positive results, our research team is considering a larger phase III trial.”
(Source:beaumont.edu)