Stress Urinary Incontinence is caused by a weakening of the muscles around the urethra, resulting in leakage of urine when physical activity increases pressure on the bladder.
Reference: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/s/stress-urinary-incontinence-(sui)
CAUSES OF STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE
While pregnancy and childbirth are the top factors increasing risk of stress incontinence, there are other health factors that also may increase your risk. They include:
- Loss of pelvic muscle tone. This can often occur with aging or childbirth, although people of all ages can develop SUI.
- Hysterectomy (or any other surgery that affects your pelvic floor)
- Nerve and muscle damage from childbirth or surgical trauma
- Obesity
- Menopause
- Chronic coughing due to smoking and lung disease
- Repeated heavy lifting or high-impact sports
STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE CAN IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE
Stress urinary incontinence can affect your quality of life. The physical and emotional demands created by stress incontinence can leave you feeling exhausted, embarrassed, and even depressed.
TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE
Behavioral Modifications
- Quit smoking and control any chronic coughing
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels) can help improve symptoms by strengthening the pelvic floor
Urethral Bulking
Urethral bulking agents 
such as Bulkamid®are injected into the wall of the urethra in order to “bulk up” the walls.
- Outpatient procedure is usually done in the office.
- It is low risk and allows you to continue to be active immediately.
Many women opt for urethral bulking as a treatment for their SUI over more invasive surgery because the procedure can be done under local anesthetic and there is a short recovery time along with less risk of serious complications.5 In fact, the majority of women with SUI choose Bulkamid before other treatment options.6
Furthermore, having Bulkamid does not exclude you from pursuing other treatment options in the future.7 See the important safety information for the full list of potential complications.
To learn more and identify a physician offering Bulkamid near you, visit FindRealRelief.com
References
- Magon, N et al. J Midlife Health. 2011
- The Lewin Group, Inc. National Women’s Health Resource Center 2007
- Itkonen Freitas et al., Tension free vaginal tape vs polyacrylamide hydrogel injection for primary stress urinary incontinence: a randomised controlled trial., J Urol., 2020 Feb., Vol. 203, 372-378
- The Lewin Group, Inc. National Women’s Health Resource Center 2007
- Sokol ER, Karram MM, Dmochowski R. Efficacy and safety of polyacrylamide hydrogel for the treatment of female stress incontinence: a randomized, prospective, multicenter North American study. J Urol. 2014 Sep;192(3):843-9
- Dwyer et al., “Voice your choice”: A study of women’s choice of surgery for primary stress urinary incontinence, International Urogynecology Journal (2020), 31:769-777.
- Bulkamid Patient Information Leaflet 2021 OUS 110-0256-003rB 06/202
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