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Stress urinary incontinence treatment options

Don’t let stress urinary incontinence (SUI) stop you from living your life. If you are living with bladder leakage, there are treatment options.

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Treatment options for stress urinary incontinence

Using absorbent pads and protective undergarments may help some manage incontinence symptoms. For some people, easing the burden of bladder leakage is possible with the following interventions:

Lifestyle planning
Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels)
Medical treatment

In addition to lifestyle changes, pelvic floor exercises, and symptom management, individuals with SUI have several treatment options.

Treatment options for women

Physical therapy and biofeedback — non-surgical approaches that use guided exercises and feedback techniques to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control
Vaginal pessaries — removable devices inserted into the vagina to support the bladder and urethra, helping to reduce stress urinary incontinence by repositioning internal structures
Tension free mid-urethral slings — a synthetic material that becomes integrated into the tissue around the urethra and forms a “hammock of support” under the urethra
Injectable bulking agents — gel-like materials that are used to bulk or fill out the tissue surrounding the urethra to increase resistance to urine leakage and provide additional support during physical activity
Bladder neck suspensions — surgery that helps place a sagging bladder back into its normal position
Marshall Marchetti Krantz (MMK) procedure — surgery where the tissue around the urethra is lifted and stitched to the bone in the front part of the pelvis (pubic bone) and to tissue behind the abdominal wall
Burch colposuspension — surgery that lifts the bladder neck to the strong ligaments on the pelvic bones using sutures

Treatment options for men

Condom catheters — also known as a penis pouch, they are placed on the penis so urine can flow into a drainage bag
Urine collection bags — an external collection device that is strapped to the body underneath clothing during the day and may rest bedside at night
Penile clamp — uses a hinged, rigid frame that supports two pads and a locking mechanism, which controls leakage by applying constant pressure upon the penis
Male sling — a small sling made of soft mesh implanted inside the body to reposition the urethra and provide support to surrounding muscles. This can help to keep the urethra closed, especially when coughing, sneezing, and lifting.
Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) — a saline-filled cuff placed inside the body that keeps the urethra closed. A pump in the scrotum allows urination on demand. The AUS is is considered a gold standard treatment for moderate to severe SUI.

Taking the next step

There are many ways to start your treatment journey.

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Talk with a doctor to learn more about your options, find a specialist near you