woman shocked

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary leakage of urine due to increased pressure (stress) on the bladder during routine activities such as laughing, sneezing, coughing, lifting, exercise, and sex. SUI often develops after pregnancy and childbirth. It occurs when the tissues surrounding the urethra no longer provide adequate support to prevent the bladder from opening.

Women suffering from this condition know just how much it can affect their daily lives; embarrassment and fear of leaks often mean they avoid activities they enjoy, such as sports or playing with grandchildren. For 68-year-old Joan Rostomily, "It was just an inconvenience more than anything else. I had to be prepared before I went anywhere. If I was going to play sports, like tennis or golf, I would have to make sure that I had pads or that I would take extra clothing in case there was an accident." And often there was. "When playing golf you're out there a long time. There aren't that many bathrooms available, and if the pressure builds up and you swing, then you have incontinence," she explains.

Many women assume that incontinence is a normal part of aging, so they do nothing about it. When Rostomily started having problems, "That was not a subject that we talked about with other women." However, following a successful treatment, "I started talking about it to everybody and found out that other friends have the same problem," she explains.

Treatment options

If you think you have SUI, it is important to be evaluated by a physician specializing in bladder disorders. If the diagnosis is confirmed, you do not have to suffer. Although no drugs are currently approved in the U.S. for treatment of SUI, you can try both surgical and non-surgical options. "When I think about how long I waited...it wasn't the fear of a procedure that kept me from doing it," explains Rostomily. "I just didn't know what procedures were available." Now, she urges every woman with an incontinence problem to check out the options and "Don't let it interfere with your fun time."

Exercises. This is a simple, low-risk approach. You can start by training your pelvic floor muscles, using Kegel exercises or biofeedback. To be effective, this method may require training with a specialized nurse or physical therapist. Unfortunately, success rates are modest. Plus, you must make a commitment to do the exercises daily for the rest of your life.

Injections. This procedure can be performed in a doctor's office. Your doctor injects materials to bulk up the area around your urethra so that the walls will close more tightly. Less invasive than surgery, it is a treatment approved for women - usually older women -- with a particular severe form of SUI known as intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD). If they work, these injections last for a limited time and must be repeated to remain effective.

Surgery. This is generally considered to be the most clinically effective means of treating SUI. However, women who wish to have more children and older women with conditions that may increase risk from anesthesia and surgery may not be good candidates for surgery. Others may be reluctant to undergo surgery because they are unable to take time off from work or family responsibilities, or because they are concerned about complications, side effects, and long term success rates. Surgery is not 100 percent effective.

The Renessa® treatment. Another option that does not require incisions, bandages, or dressings is a licensed approach called the Renessa® treatment, developed by Novasys Medical, a private firm. The physician passes a small probe through the urethral opening that gently heats the tissue in the upper urethra and bladder. The heat changes the tissue structure, making it firmer and therefore better able to prevent urine leakage when pressure increases on the bladder. In clinical studies conducted by Novasys, 76 percent of women experienced either a reduction or complete resolution of their incontinence; 58 percent were able to eliminate the use of pads.

Results typically occur within 90 days of treatment, and the effect appears to last. Follow-ups with women who received this treatment more than three years ago indicate that most still had fewer leaks than they did before treatment. Plus, this approach also appears to be safe; no serious complications have been reported to date, according to Novasys.

Rostomily, who found the Renessa treatment highly effective, likes to tell other women about the procedure. "If this is a problem that I think might even be happening to other people my age after having children or hysterectomies and all of that, I bring it up," she says. "It immediately perks up their interest, and they'll ask me questions." For her, the treatment was the key to continuing an active, mobile lifestyle. "My husband and I have an RV, and we travel quite a bit, so it's important for me not to have to even think about bladder conditions. I'm doing everything again, like years ago," she says.

For more information about incontinence and the way it affects the lives of many older persons, visit the National Association For Continence at www.NAFC.org. For more information on the Renessa treatment, please visitwww.novasysmedical.com.