How is Urinary Incontinence Treated?
Urinary incontinence is medically called “urinary incontinence” and can be caused by different causes. Treatment for urinary incontinence may vary depending on the underlying causes and the severity of the symptoms. Here are some of the common urinary incontinence treatments:
- TVT (Tension-Free Vaginal Tape) Treatment:
- Preparation: The patient is usually given local anesthesia. After anesthesia, the patient is kept in a sleepy environment.
- Incisions: Small incisions are made in the anterior wall of the vagina. These incisions are usually made just below the entrance to the vagina.
- Tape Placement: A special vaginal tape (tape) is placed from the cut areas, under the bladder and around the urethra. This strip is used to support the urethra and prevent urinary incontinence. The strip is placed on the “strain-free” principle, ie no tension is created.
- Fixation of the Strip: The strip is properly fixed in the areas where the vaginal incisions are made. This strip is used to prevent urinary incontinence and to support the pelvic floor.
- Closure of Incisions: The cut areas are closed with sutures or other suitable surgical materials.
- TOT (Transobturator Tape) Treatment:
- Preparation: It can be done under local or general anesthesia. The comfort and convenience of the patient is ensured.
- Incisions: Small incisions are made on the underside of the vagina and in the groin.
- Tape Placement: A special vaginal tape (tape) is placed under the urinary bladder and around the urethra from vaginal incisions and inguinal incisions. This strip is used to support the urethra and prevent incontinence.
- Fixation of the Strip: The strip is properly fixed through channels placed in the groin areas.
- Closure of Incisions: The cut areas are closed with sutures or similar materials.
- Lifestyle Changes:
- Regulating fluid intake: Excessive fluid consumption can increase the amount of urine. It may be helpful to limit fluid intake, especially late at night.
- Emptying your urine regularly: You can reduce the pressure on the bladder by emptying your urine frequently.
- Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles: Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can reduce the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises are used for this purpose.
- Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy methods can be applied to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and increase their coordination. This can correct looseness caused by incontinence.
- Medication: Your doctor may recommend medications to relieve or control urinary incontinence symptoms. These drugs can be used to strengthen bladder muscles or increase bladder control.
- Surgical Intervention: Surgical treatment may be considered in more severe cases or where other treatment modalities have not been effective. Surgical options may include sling surgery or bladder band applications.
- Botox Injections: Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections can be used to relieve symptoms caused by incontinence due to overactive bladder.
- Electrostimulation: Electrostimulation is a treatment method that aims to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles by stimulating them. This can sometimes improve urinary incontinence symptoms.
Treatment options may vary depending on the person’s condition, the severity of symptoms, and underlying causes. If you have urinary incontinence, it is important to see a healthcare professional. After the correct diagnosis is made, your doctor will guide you to recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
What are Urinary Incontinence Treatment Methods?
Treatment of urinary incontinence may involve different methods, depending on the underlying causes, the severity of symptoms, and the patient’s general health. Here are the common methods used to treat urinary incontinence:
- TVT (Tension-Free Vaginal Tape) Method: In this method, it is aimed to support the muscles around the urethra and prevent urinary incontinence by using a special vaginal tape. The TVT method is usually performed on the anterior wall of the vagina. The operation steps are as follows:
- Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is usually applied. The patient is awake, but the procedure area is anesthetized.
- Incisions: Small incisions are made in the anterior wall of the vagina. These incisions are usually located just below the vaginal entrance.
- Strip Placement: A special vaginal strip is placed under the urinary bladder and around the urethra from the cut areas. This strip gets its name because it is tension-free.
- Fixation of the Strip: The strip is properly fixed in the areas where the vaginal incisions are made. This is done to prevent urinary incontinence and to support the pelvic floor.
- Closure of Incisions: The cut areas are closed with sutures or other suitable surgical materials.
- TOT (Transobturator Tape) Method: In this method, the bladder and urethra are supported by using a vaginal strip, but the strip is placed by passing the urinary tract in a different way. The operation steps are as follows:
- Anesthesia: Local or general anesthesia can be applied.
- Incisions: Small incisions are made in the lower part of the vagina and in the groin.
- Strip Insertion: A special vaginal strip is placed around the urethra, passing through the vaginal and groin incisions. This strip also gets its name because it is placed without tension (tension-free).
- Fixation of the Strip: The strip is properly fixed through channels placed in the groin areas.
- Closure of Incisions: The cut areas are closed with sutures or similar materials.
- Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegel Exercises): These are exercises specially designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles play an important role in urinary retention and bladder control. Kegel exercises can reduce urinary incontinence symptoms if done regularly.
- Bladder Training: In this method, you learn to empty your urine at regular intervals. By doing this, you can increase bladder capacity and prevent sudden urinary incontinence.
- Electrostimulation (Electrical Stimulation): Providing electrical stimulation to the pelvic floor muscles through special devices can help strengthen these muscles. It can be effective when guided by experts.
- Biofeedback: This method uses devices that measure certain functions of your body (for example, the force of contraction of the pelvic floor muscles). In this way, you can better understand and control correct muscle contractions.
- Medication: Your doctor may recommend medications to relieve or control urinary incontinence symptoms. These drugs can be used to strengthen bladder muscles or increase bladder control.
- Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injections: In cases of urinary incontinence due to overactive bladder, botulinum toxin injections can be used to reduce excessive contraction of the muscles.
- Surgical Treatment: Surgical options may be required because other treatment methods are not effective or because of the severity of the condition. For example, sling surgery or bladder band applications are among the surgical methods used in the treatment of urinary incontinence.
- Vaginal Cones: In this method, weighted cones placed inside the vagina are used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
- Nutrition and Fluid Regulation: It is important to control fluid intake, especially to prevent frequent urination at night by regulating your urination habits.
It is important to talk to a healthcare professional to determine which treatment method is best for you. Your specialist will evaluate your symptoms and create the appropriate treatment plan.
Who Is Urinary Incontinence Treatment Suitable For?
Urinary incontinence treatment can be applied to different people depending on the severity of the symptoms and the underlying causes. Here are a few examples of who may be suitable for incontinence treatment:
- Suitable Candidates for TVT and TOT Treatment:
- Stress Urinary Incontinence: Both TVT and TOT therapy are suitable for treating stress urinary incontinence. In this type of incontinence, there is urinary incontinence with simple movements such as laughing, coughing, sneezing or physical activity.
- Natural Postpartum: These treatment methods can be considered for women who have postpartum urinary incontinence problems. Urinary incontinence may occur, especially if the pelvic floor muscles are injured during childbirth.
- Pelvic Floor Support Problems: Individuals who experience urinary incontinence due to weakness or sagging of the pelvic floor muscles may also be among the treatment candidates.
- Those Who Do Not Respond to Conservative Treatments: Surgical options may be considered for individuals who do not respond to or do not prefer conservative treatments such as Kegel exercises and bladder training.
- General Health of the Patient: As with any surgical procedure, the patient’s general health should be considered. Evaluation of suitability for surgery is important.
- Unsuitable Candidates for TVT and TOT Treatment:
- Pregnancy or Planned Pregnancy: These treatments are generally not recommended for individuals who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
- Serious Health Issues: Surgery can be risky for those with serious heart disease, infections, or other medical issues.
- Individuals with a Stroke: The risk of surgery may be higher, especially in individuals who have had a recent stroke or have high blood pressure problems.
- Coagulation Problems: Individuals with blood clotting problems may have an increased risk of bleeding after surgery.
- Those with Stress Type Urinary Incontinence: Stress type urinary incontinence is urinary incontinence during physical activities such as sneezing, coughing, laughing. It can occur due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. For those who experience this type of urinary incontinence, methods such as pelvic floor exercises and bladder training may be appropriate.
- Those with Overactive Bladder (Urgent Urinary Incontinence): Overactive bladder is characterized by a frequent and sudden urge to urinate. This condition can be caused by excessive contraction of the bladder muscles. For those experiencing this type of urinary incontinence, methods such as drug therapy, botulinum toxin injections or electrostimulation may be considered.
- Those with Mixed Incontinence: Mixed urinary incontinence is a combination of both stress and overactive bladder symptoms. In this case, the treatment plan is determined by the direction in which the symptoms predominate.
- Those with Nighttime Urinary Incontinence (Nocturia): Nocturnal incontinence is a condition that causes the need to wake up at night. This usually occurs in older adults. Bladder training, regulation of fluid intake, and pelvic floor exercises can be used to control this condition.
- Those Who Need Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be required when other treatment methods are not effective or because of the severity of the condition. In particular, surgical methods such as bladder sling surgery or bladder band applications can be considered.
- Those with Weakness of the Pelvic Floor Muscles: Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles is often associated with conditions such as pregnancy, childbirth or aging. In this case, pelvic floor exercises and physiotherapy methods may be beneficial.
Remember that every situation is unique. If you have urinary incontinence, it would be best to see a healthcare professional. Your doctor can evaluate your symptoms and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan for you to achieve the best outcome for you.
What are the Pretreatment Procedures for Urinary Incontinence?
There are some pre-treatment procedures and methods to deal with the problem of urinary incontinence (urinary incontinence). These methods can be used to relieve symptoms and manage the condition. Here are the pretreatment methods of urinary incontinence:
- Lifestyle Changes:
- Regulating fluid intake: Excessive fluid consumption can increase the amount of urine. It may be helpful to limit fluid intake, especially late at night.
- Emptying your urine regularly: You can reduce the pressure on the bladder by emptying your urine frequently.
- Dietary adjustment: It is important to limit substances that can increase urination, such as alcohol, caffeine, and sodas.
- Preventing constipation: Constipation can affect the pelvic floor muscles, so it’s important to have regular bowel movements.
- Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegel Exercises): These are exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are important in controlling urinary incontinence. Kegel exercises can be done regularly, strengthening the muscles and increasing control.
- Bladder Training: Bladder training involves learning to empty your urine at regular intervals. This can increase bladder capacity and help prevent urinary incontinence.
- Regulation of Fluid Intake: Limiting fluid intake, especially in the evening, can reduce the risk of nighttime urinary incontinence.
- Vaginal Cones: It can be helpful to use vaginal cones to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. These cones are inserted into the vagina to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
- Biofeedback: With the biofeedback method, you learn the contraction strength and control of the pelvic floor muscles. This can help understand and strengthen correct muscle contractions.
- Losing Weight If You Are Overweight: Carrying excess weight can weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Reaching a healthy weight can relieve urinary incontinence symptoms.
These pretreatment methods can reduce or control symptoms in mild cases of urinary incontinence. However, if your symptoms are severe or affecting quality of life, it’s important to see a healthcare professional and get expert advice. Your treatment plan should be personalized to your symptoms, condition, and needs.
Post Urinary Incontinence Treatment Process
The process after urinary incontinence treatment may vary depending on the treatment method used, the severity of the symptoms and the general health status of the patient. But in general, the post-incontinence treatment process may include the following steps:
- Effect of Treatment and Recovery: Depending on the treatment method applied, the healing process may vary. The effect of medication, pelvic floor exercises or other methods can be seen over time. The healing process is individual and may differ depending on the person’s body structure, age and response to treatment.
- Monitoring and Controls: Your doctor may recommend regular check-ups to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and adjust as needed. In these controls, your symptoms and general health are evaluated.
- Treatment Methods Followed: The treatment process may include regular application of pelvic floor exercises or other methods. Pelvic floor exercises, especially, should be done regularly and continuously.
- Maintaining Lifestyle Changes: Continuing with lifestyle changes after treatment can help prevent symptoms from recurring. For example, it is important to regulate fluid intake, prevent constipation, and maintain weight control.
- Long-Term Effects of Treatment: The long-term effects of treatment may vary depending on the type of treatment. Some treatments provide permanent results, while others may be treatments that need to be repeated regularly.
- Following the Recommendations of the Specialist: Following the recommendations and instructions of your doctor and healthcare team is important for the successful post-treatment process. Following expert advice can help the treatment effect and progress positively.
- In case of recurrence of symptoms: After treatment, you may experience a recurrence of symptoms. In this case, it is important to contact your doctor immediately and evaluate the situation. Your treatment plan can be adjusted as needed.
Remember that each individual’s situation is different and the post-treatment process should also be personalized. Following the advice of the doctor or healthcare professional who directs your treatment will help you achieve the best results.