Urinary stress Incontinence – prevention and treatment

Urinary stress incontinence (USI) negatively affects the quality of life. Symptoms frequency and intensity vary from mild to severe. Although it is not life threatening, the uncontrolled urination causes severe psychological, social and medical problems. Its importance and clinical implications are comparable with depression and diabetes. Relaxation of the anatomical structure that supports the periurethral tissue and the weakening of the urethral sphincter are the main causes of USI. Damage to the innervation of the pelvic floor muscles during vaginal delivery may lead to loss of strength and neurohumoral regulation of tone of the pelvic muscles, which in turn can cause incontinence and damage to the pelvic floor support. Traumas and chronic mechanical pressure to the bladder like in cases of obesity, asthma, coughing and lifting of weights are reasons leading to USI. Studies have shown that the ligaments and pubocervical fascia in women with urinary stress incontinence have reduced content and significant quality changes of collagen. These changes in the metabolism of collagen lead to abnormal connective tissue structure and function and eventually lack of urinary tract support.

The Erbium Yag (Er:YAG) laser is the best option for treatment of USI. The main mechanism of function is stimulation of the synthesis of sub-mucosal collagen, whereas neocollagenesis leads to hardening of the tissue and normalizes the function of the connective tissue. The treated area gradually shrinks and tightened, improving the support of the bladder, alleviating the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence. The use of Erbium Yag laser allows for a large variability of the duration and intensity of the pulse, also enabling individualization of treatment.

Advantages of the Erbium Yag Laser treatment:

1. Efficient treatment in the long run.
2. Natural regeneration and normal functionality of the connective tissue.
3. Fast. Its only 15 -30 min, noninvasive, office procedure
4. Easy and painless, with no anaesthesia.
5. No danger of bleeding or infection or any other complication.
6. Immediate return to social and working activities.
7. Low cost procedure.
8. Huge psychological relief and alleviation of stress..