Urogynaecology
Urinary incontinence surgery includes a variety of procedures, from minimally invasive injection of bulking agents to major surgical intervention. Find out which urinary incontinence surgical procedure might be an option for you.
By Mayo Clinic staff
For some women, the symptoms of stress incontinence or overactive bladder don't respond to conservative treatment. When urinary incontinence markedly disrupts your life, urinary incontinence surgery may be an option.
Urinary incontinence surgery for women is usually considered only if more-conservative strategies aren't helping. Urinary incontinence surgery is more invasive and has a higher risk of complications than do many other therapies, but it can also provide a long-term solution in severe cases. Most options for urinary incontinence surgery are used to treat stress incontinence. However, low-risk surgical alternatives are also available for other bladder problems, including severe urge incontinence, which is also called overactive bladder and nonobstructive urinary retention.
Things to consider
Before you choose urinary incontinence surgery, get an accurate diagnosis. Different types of incontinence require different surgical approaches. Your doctor may refer you to an incontinence specialist, urologist or urogynecologist for further diagnostic testing.
If you plan on having children, your doctor may recommend holding off on surgery until you're finished with childbearing. The strain of pregnancy and delivery on your bladder, urethra and supportive tissues may "undo" any prior surgical fix.
Surgery can only correct the problem it's designed to treat and, in some cases, won't cure your incontinence. If you have mixed incontinence, for instance, surgery for stress incontinence may not improve your urge incontinence. You may need medications and physical therapy after surgery to treat the urge incontinence. Incontinence is caused by weak or damaged nerves and muscles, and surgery can only compensate for the damage. It can't repair the damaged nerves and muscles.
Know the risks
Like any surgical procedure, stress urinary incontinence surgery comes with risks and potential complications. For instance, surgery itself may give rise to different urinary and genital problems, such as:
Difficulty urinating and incomplete emptying of the bladder (urinary retention), although this is usually temporary
Development of an overactive bladder, which could include urge incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse
Urinary tract infection
Difficult or painful intercourse