Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary Stress incontinence is the accidental release of urine that occurs when you sneeze, cough, laugh, jog, or do other things that put pressure on your bladder. It's the most common type of incontinence in women. Stress incontinence can be caused by childbirth, weight gain, or other problems that stretch the pelvic floor muscles. When these muscles can't support your bladder, the bladder drops down and pushes against the vagina. You're not able to tighten the muscles that close off the urethra. Urine may leak because of the extra pressure on your bladder. Incontinence can have more than one cause, so your doctor will treat the main cause first. Surgery for stress incontinence is usually done only after other treatments have failed. Other treatments you might try include: Surgery may be done when other treatments have not worked. Surgery is done to support, lift, or strengthen the bladder or the urethra. This makes it less likely that urine will leak from the bladder when you sneeze, cough, or laugh. The kind of surgery you have depends on what you prefer. It also depends on your health, the severity of urine leakage, and your doctor's experience. Types of surgery include: Talk with your doctor about things you can do to increase the chance of having a successful surgery. You may have better results if you lose weight or do Kegels before surgery. If you smoke, quit. Your doctor may suggest surgery if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I started having stress incontinence after my son was born. My doctor showed me how to do some exercises to strengthen the muscles that help hold urine in. I know other women who have been helped by them. I am glad to have options other than surgery. Tina, age 39 I thought I had tried everything for my stress incontinence. I can manage it most of the time, but when I jog, I get quite a bit of dribbling. I went to my doctor to find out whether there was anything I hadn't tried or whether surgery was my only other option. We talked about a lot of options, including pelvic floor exercises. I am going to give those methods a try. Maria, age 45 Ever since I was in my 20s, I have leaked a little bit of urine when I cough or sneeze or exercise. After I had my kids, it seemed to get worse. I really wanted a solution that would take care of the problem all the time. Even though there are some risks, my doctor and I agreed that surgery was a reasonable choice for me. Faith, age 39 At my last visit, my doctor and I talked about many aspects of getting older: the leaking urine, the weaker bones, the change in my hormones, and all that. I was surprised to learn about surgery to help with my urine leakage problem. It is good to know that so many women have had success from surgery. Carrie, age 55 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have surgery Reasons not to have surgery I've tried Kegel exercises, but they haven't worked for me. I think that Kegels might work for me. I don't want to wear absorbent pads or try a pessary to avoid leakage. I don't mind wearing pads or trying a pessary. I've tried medicines, but they don't work for me. I think that medicines might work for me. Stress incontinence lowers my quality of life. My quality of life is not too bad. I think surgery can help me. I don't want to have surgery for any reason. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having surgery NOT having surgery Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Stress incontinence is the accidental release of urine that occurs when you sneeze, cough, laugh, jog, or do other things that put pressure on your bladder. It's the most common type of incontinence in women. Stress incontinence can be caused by childbirth, weight gain, or other problems that stretch the pelvic floor muscles. When these muscles can't support your bladder, the bladder drops down and pushes against the vagina. You're not able to tighten the muscles that close off the urethra. Urine may leak because of the extra pressure on your bladder. Incontinence can have more than one cause, so your doctor will treat the main cause first. Surgery for stress incontinence is usually done only after other treatments have failed. Other treatments you might try include: Surgery may be done when other treatments have not worked. Surgery is done to support, lift, or strengthen the bladder or the urethra. This makes it less likely that urine will leak from the bladder when you sneeze, cough, or laugh. The kind of surgery you have depends on what you prefer. It also depends on your health, the severity of urine leakage, and your doctor's experience. Types of surgery include: Talk with your doctor about things you can do to increase the chance of having a successful surgery. You may have better results if you lose weight or do Kegels before surgery. If you smoke, quit. Your doctor may suggest surgery if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I started having stress incontinence after my son was born. My doctor showed me how to do some exercises to strengthen the muscles that help hold urine in. I know other women who have been helped by them. I am glad to have options other than surgery." — Tina, age 39 "I thought I had tried everything for my stress incontinence. I can manage it most of the time, but when I jog, I get quite a bit of dribbling. I went to my doctor to find out whether there was anything I hadn't tried or whether surgery was my only other option. We talked about a lot of options, including pelvic floor exercises. I am going to give those methods a try." — Maria, age 45 "Ever since I was in my 20s, I have leaked a little bit of urine when I cough or sneeze or exercise. After I had my kids, it seemed to get worse. I really wanted a solution that would take care of the problem all the time. Even though there are some risks, my doctor and I agreed that surgery was a reasonable choice for me." — Faith, age 39 "At my last visit, my doctor and I talked about many aspects of getting older: the leaking urine, the weaker bones, the change in my hormones, and all that. I was surprised to learn about surgery to help with my urine leakage problem. It is good to know that so many women have had success from surgery." — Carrie, age 55 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have surgery Reasons not to have surgery I've tried Kegel exercises, but they haven't worked for me. I think that Kegels might work for me. I don't want to wear absorbent pads or try a pessary to avoid leakage. I don't mind wearing pads or trying a pessary. I've tried medicines, but they don't work for me. I think that medicines might work for me. Stress incontinence lowers my quality of life. My quality of life is not too bad. I think surgery can help me. I don't want to have surgery for any reason. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having surgery NOT having surgery 1.
Is surgery usually the first treatment for stress incontinence? 2.
Can pelvic floor exercises help with stress incontinence? 3.
Can symptoms come back after surgery? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: November 15, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardStress Incontinence in Women: Should I Have Surgery?
Stress Incontinence in Women: Should I Have Surgery?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is stress incontinence?
How is it treated?
When is surgery done for stress incontinence?
Why might your doctor recommend surgery for stress incontinence?
Compare your options
Personal stories about choosing treatments to manage stress incontinence
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Stress Incontinence in Women: Should I Have Surgery?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is stress incontinence?
How is it treated?
When is surgery done for stress incontinence?
Why might your doctor recommend surgery for stress incontinence?
2. Compare your options
Have surgery for stress incontinence Don't have surgery What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about choosing treatments to manage stress incontinence
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Have surgery for stress incontinence Have surgery for stress incontinence
Don't have surgery Don't have surgery
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You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
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Equally important
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You're right. Surgery is usually done only after other treatments have failed.
You're right. Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) can help you control your bladder when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or exercise.
You're right. When the correct cause of incontinence is known, surgery can often cure it. But sometimes symptoms come back.
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure
Credits