Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Significant Health Issue

Urinary incontinence is a serious health problem that significantly impacts quality of life and restricts social activities. It is commonly classified into two types: one involving sudden urgency and leakage due to an inability to reach the toilet in time, and the other occurring during activities such as climbing stairs, lifting heavy objects, or coughing.

In some cases, both types of incontinence may be present together. Additionally, incontinence may result from the bladder not functioning properly or from a blockage causing excessive bladder distension, leading to overflow incontinence.

Urinary incontinence caused by exercise, coughing, or heavy lifting is particularly common in women who have had multiple vaginal births.

In men, it is more common after radical prostatectomy due to prostate cancer. Initially, pelvic floor strengthening exercises and medication are tried, but in cases where these treatments are unsuccessful, surgery may be required.

Content Overview

• What is Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery?
• How is Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery Performed?
• What Should Be Done After Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery?
• Does Vaginal Narrowing Occur in Urinary Incontinence Surgery?
• What is the Cost of Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery in Izmir?
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery?

Urinary incontinence is defined as the loss of bladder control, leading to involuntary leakage of urine, either in small droplets or in larger amounts.

Urinary incontinence in women can begin at any age, but it becomes more prominent after pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause. Incontinence is medically referred to as "incontinence," and it is more commonly seen as a problem specific to women.

There is no standard measurement for urinary incontinence, as some women do not consider it a significant problem despite not needing sanitary pads, while others may see even occasional leakage as a serious issue.

How is Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery Performed?

Treatment Details

• Procedure: For women experiencing urinary incontinence due to coughing, heavy lifting, etc., a patch is placed near the bladder through a vaginal incision.
• Duration: 1 Hour
• Hospital Stay: 1 Day
• Anesthesia: Spinal anesthesia
• Recovery Time: 1-2 Days
• Return to Work (School): 5-7 Days
• Scar Formation: No
• Pain Duration: 1-2 Days

Urinary incontinence can start at any age in women, but it is more prominent after pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause.

For stress incontinence in women, urinary leakage can usually be stopped by placing a patch under the bladder via the vagina. Typically, local anesthesia is enough. The surgery takes around 45–60 minutes and has high effectiveness.

The patient is monitored in the hospital overnight. The next morning, a urinary catheter is removed, and the patient’s ability to urinate comfortably is checked before discharge.

Serious complications, such as excessive bleeding, are rare. In the long term, problems such as the patch extending into the bladder may occur. Therefore, regular follow-up visits with a urologist are recommended.

What Should Be Done After Female Urinary Incontinence Surgery?

After a surgical procedure for female urinary incontinence, it is crucial to give the body time to heal. Patients should follow the surgeon’s post-operative care instructions, such as taking pain relief medications, avoiding strenuous activities, and refraining from sexual activity. Additionally, good hygiene practices, such as wiping front to back after using the toilet, should be followed.

Patients should keep follow-up appointments to track their progress and ensure the procedure is healing well. Full recovery and return to normal activities may take several weeks. Lifestyle changes, including pelvic floor exercises, weight loss, and quitting smoking, may improve outcomes.

Does Vaginal Narrowing Occur in Urinary Incontinence Surgery?

Urinary incontinence surgery helps treat stress urinary incontinence, which occurs when urine leaks during activities like laughing, coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects, or exercising. During the surgery, a patch is placed beneath the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside. The urethra is lifted slightly to prevent leakage during physical activity. However, this surgery does not result in vaginal narrowing.

A small surgical incision is made inside the vagina by the surgeon. Depending on the type of surgery, additional incisions may be made in the lower abdomen or near the thighs. A special synthetic band is passed through the vaginal incisions and placed under the urethra. One end of the band is passed through the abdominal or thigh incisions.

The surgeon adjusts the tension of the band to support the urethra. If you are not under general anesthesia, you may be asked to cough to check the tension of the band. Once the tension is adjusted, the ends of the band are cut level with the skin, and the incisions are closed. As healing progresses, the scar tissue formed at the incision sites will help keep the band in place.

The surgery typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour. A urinary catheter is inserted after the procedure and removed the next day. The patient stays in the hospital for one night.