Urogynecology

Urogynecology is dedicated to the treatment of women with pelvic floor disorders such as urinary or fecal incontinence. Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine) is a common condition affecting at least 10-20% of women under age 65 and up to 56% of women over the age of 65.

There are several forms of urinary incontinence, including:

• Stress incontinence: Urine leaks out when pressure is put on the bladder. Typical situations involve coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
• Urge incontinence: A strong, uncontrollable need to urinate is experienced often by women suffering from what many call “overactive bladder.”
• Overflow incontinence: This occurs when the bladder doesn’t empty normally and becomes very full. This may result in urine leaking out of the bladder, with the bladder never feeling completely empty.
• Mixed incontinence: Some individuals experience more than one of the types listed above

The right treatment for you will depend on the type of urinary incontinence that you have.

What Treatments are Available?

Stress urinary incontinence is very treatable at any age. But not all approaches work for every person or for every type of incontinence. For stress urinary incontinence, your physician may suggest one or more of the following:

Behavioral/Muscle Therapy: For women with stress urinary incontinence, the first line of therapy is usually Kegel exercises to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Depending on the severity of your condition, however, Kegels may not bring sufficient relief. Other therapies that may be used alone or in combination with Kegel exercises include:

Biofeedback - a process that helps you gain control over bodily functions by making you more aware of them

Electrical stimulation - which aids pelvic floor exercises by isolating the muscles involved

Medication: Some types of urinary incontinence can be treated with medications or hormone therapy (if incontinence is associated with estrogen deficiency, for example).

Why is GYNECARE TVT a good option?

Today's minimally invasive procedures offer safe and effective ways to treat sudden urine loss.

GYNECARE TVT* Tension-free Support for Incontinence is an innovative, minimally invasive 30-minute, outpatient treatment with proven results for the effective treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

Recovery is quick- GYNECARE TVT can be performed under local anesthesia. You'll be back to your normal routine in just a day or two.

GYNECARE TVT is the only treatment of its type with demonstrated long-term clinical results. It's clinically proven, safe and effective:

98% of women treated with GYNECARE TVT are still dry
or report significantly less leakage seven years after treatment.

Few patients experience complications. Worldwide, more than 500,000 women have been treated with GYNECARE TVT - ten times the number of women who've been treated with the next treatment of its type.

How Does GYNECARE TVT Work?

GYNECARE TVT stops urine leakage the way your body was designed to- by supporting your urethra.

Normally, the urethra is supported by the pelvic floor muscle to maintain a tight seal and prevent involuntary urine loss. In women with SUl, the weakened pelvic floor muscle and connective tissue can't support the urethra in its normal position.
To correct this using GYNECARE TVT, your doctor will insert a ribbon- like strip of mesh under the urethra to provide support whenever you stress this area (such as during a cough or sneeze). This allows the urethra to remain closed, when appropriate, preventing involuntary urine loss.

The ribbon-like mesh is made from a permanent material that will be well tolerated by your body. It will remain in place to help support your urethra. The rate of complications with GYNECARE TVT is very low.

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

The procedure is short - it usually takes just 30 minutes. The GYNECARE TVT procedure can be performed under local, regional or general anesthesia. You will be comfortable and may be asleep during the procedure. You will have two tiny incisions either just above the pubic area or near the creases on the thighs. Your doctor will monitor your ability to pass urine before you go home.

The GYNECARE TVT mesh will be placed in one of two possible configurations, based on your doctor's assessment.

Is GYNECARE TVT Right for Me?

The best way to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure is to ask your doctor. GYNECARE TVT is appropriate for many types of patients. As with any procedure of this kind, GYNECARE TVT should not be considered if you are pregnant or if you plan to be in the future.

What can I expect after I go home?

At your doctor's discretion, you may be able to go home as early as a few hours after your procedure and return to a relatively normal schedule of activities the next day. There will be very little or no discomfort after the procedure. If you need it, your doctor may suggest taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Motrin® IB. Your doctor will advise you to avoid heavy lifting and intercourse for four to six weeks.

What are the risks?

All medical procedures present risks. Although rare, complications include difficulty urinating, injury to blood vessels of the pelvic sidewall and abdominal wall, and bladder and bowel injury. For a complete description of risks, please contact us for more information.