Stress incontinence – no need to suffer in silence

Stress incontinence – Cellite offers new viable alternative to surgery

As many as one in three women will suffer from urinary incontinence during their lifetime.  Stress  incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence, and it is usually associated with the strain of pregnancy and birth, and the effects of ageing.

The severity of urinary incontinence varies hugely between women, however, common symptoms are losing urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing or when taking exercise.  For many women, their condition restricts their lifestyle, for example, nearly a quarter of women take time off work because of it.

In some cases, stress incontinence can be relieved by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles – these muscles weaken with age, and following pregnancy and childbirth.  The bladder is a hollow, muscular pump, filed slowly from the kidneys.

Around the outlet of the bladder are a series of muscles called the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles relax when a person needs the loo, and the bladder then releases urine. It is these pelvic floor muscles that are targeted when trying to stop stress incontinence. But if they fail, then surgical intervention is the next step.

Dr Judodihardjo says that a viable alternative to surgery is now available, and he has become the first clinician in UK to use the Petit Lady laser treatment to alleviate stress incontinence in women.

“Stress urinary incontinence is a common problem in women, and is related to ageing and childbirth, as many people are aware  the relaxed vaginal wall reduces the support that is needed for proper bladder control.  This can lead to leakage of urine during activities that increase abdominal pressure such as exercise, lifting, coughing and sneezing.

Petit Lady Laser treatment can strengthen the supporting wall of the vagina and thus cure, or at least reduce the severity of the problem.  Treatment is helpful in up to 90 per cent of cases, which is a particularly high success rate for any medical treatments.”

Benefits of Petit Lady laser treatment

  • It is a non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment
  • Success rate reported at 90 per cent
  • Minimal discomfort during and following treatment. A topical local anaesthetic can be used if necessary.
  • Laser energy accurately treats the target area.  The efficient design of the laser means that the treatment is completed in just a few minutes.
  • Very little down time is required following treatment, and most patients can go back to work and carry out most activities immediately after treatment.
  • Most patients will see an improvement after a single treatment. However, depending on the severity of the problem, up to six treatments may be needed. Post-menopausal women may need re-treatment every six months.“The problem of stress incontinence is almost a silent one despite its prevalence,” concludes Dr Judodihardjo.“Many people come to me having suffered for a long time before seeking treatment. For some women, it has a seriously detrimental effect on their lives as they become reluctant to take exercise or even socialise because of the embarrassment caused by their condition.  But the important message to get out there is that stress urinary incontinence maybe treatable, so there is no need for anyone to suffer quietly at home.”