Question 1

What is stress incontinence?

Accepted Answer

Stress urinary incontinence occurs when physical activity places pressure on the bladder, leading to leakage. Triggers include:

• Coughing
 • Sneezing
 • Laughing
 • Exercising
 • Lifting heavy objects

Question 2

How is stress incontinence treated?

Accepted Answer

Treatment for stress urinary incontinence focuses on improving pelvic floor strength and restoring support to the bladder and urethra. Depending on symptom severity, treatment options may include:

• Lifestyle modifications
Addressing factors such as chronic coughing, heavy lifting, weight management, and constipation that increase pressure on the bladder.
 • Pelvic floor physical therapy
Strengthens and retrains the muscles that support the bladder and urethra, helping reduce leakage with activity.
 • Emsella chair treatments
A non-invasive therapy that delivers high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation to produce thousands of supramaximal pelvic floor contractions in each session, improving muscle strength and bladder support to reduce leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.
 • Pessary use
In select patients, a vaginal support device may help provide additional support to the urethra and reduce stress-related leakage.
 • Urethral bulking injections
A minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting a bulking agent around the urethra to improve closure and reduce urine leakage, particularly in women who are not candidates for or prefer to avoid surgery.

Surgical treatment
For women with persistent or severe stress incontinence that does not improve with conservative care, surgical options such as a bladder sling may be considered.

Urinary Incontinence