Incontinence treatment

Stress urinary incontinence most commonly occurs in women. The involuntary release of urine is not related to psychological stress, but rather to high abdominal pressure combined with weakness of the pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter.

Multiple factors contribute to developing stress incontinence: anatomy disorders, pregnancy and childbirth, pelvic surgery, changes coming with age, a trauma in the groin area, obesity, etc. In women, the bladder and urinary tract are linked to the muscle layer called pelvic floor muscles. These muscles help open the urinary tract. If they grow weaker or their elasticity worsens, you may experience involuntary urine leakage. For example, the pelvic floor muscles may become stretched and weakened during pregnancy and childbirth. Menopause is another cause of incontinence. With advancing age and menopause causing a decrease in female hormones (estrogens), comes a thinning of the bladder and vaginal mucous membranes, and the urinary tract walls. The blood supply to the pelvic floor muscles decreases, another contributing factor to urinary incontinence. Obesity and some other conditions (chronic cough, hypertension medication) put additional stress on these muscles.

IncontiLase® is a proprietary, noninvasive Er: YAG laser therapy used to treat light to moderate stress incontinence. It works by unaggressively stimulating the formation of collagen, constricting and tightening the vaginal mucous membrane and the collagen-rich connective tissue plate on the frontal vaginal wall. This results in better bladder support and a return to normal urinary retention function.

The main advantage of IncontiLase® is that it is performed in the clinical room – no pain, ablation, cutting, bleeding or stitching. The recovery period is extremely fast, and there is no need to take analgesics and antibiotics.

IMPORTANT

IncontiLase® is a noninvasive, effective and safe procedure intended for light and severe stress and mixed urinary incontinence. AestheLine Dermatology Clinic uses high-quality equipment by the leading laser manufacturer in the field of dermatology and aesthetics, Fotona®.

The treatment consists of two phases. After taking all the necessary tests and measurements, the physician will insert a sterile glass speculum to limit the vagina’s contact with the laser tip. The laser is then placed in the speculum and commences treatment along the entire vaginal mucous membrane. It will go over that area two or three times.  You won’t feel any pain or burning during the procedure. You may feel slightly stronger burning when the laser is treating the area near the vaginal entrance. This will only last a couple of seconds. Towards the end of the treatment, an anesthetic gel will be applied to the vagina and urethra, then the laser will treat that area. You might feel slight burning. The procedure lasts between 30 and 40 minutes.

The IncontiLase therapy is performed after we’ve taken all necessary tests and measurements – a PAP smear and a gynecology exam. This therapy is not an effective treatment for imperative incontinence or any incontinence other than stress and mixed incontinence. It is contraindicated in cases of urinary tract infections and narrowing, positive PAP smear results, during menstruation and pregnancy.  Its effects are diminished in cases of BMI >40 obesity and severe prolapse. After undergoing IncontiLase therapy, you may experience stronger vaginal flow 2-3 days after the procedure. It may present as intermittent, slight bleeding.

The therapy’s effects become noticeable after the very first procedure. After 2 or 4 procedures, the effect lasts for up to 18-24 months.

The recovery period is extremely fast, and there is no need to take analgesics and antibiotics. There is no special post-procedure care. You need to abstain from sexual contacts for at least a week after the procedure. You should avoid using tampons for 4 weeks after undergoing treatment. You should avoid severe physical strain for at least 2 weeks after undergoing treatment.

To alleviate light or even moderate stress urinary incontinence, it is recommended to undergo at least two procedures. In more severe instances, 3 or 4 procedures are recommended. The procedures are performed once a month.