You may also have frequent urges to urinate and wake up at night to urinate. Various treatments are available, some of which involve surgery and some of which involve exercises or use of special devices. Stress incontinence can be treated with pelvic muscle exercises. Surgery may be an option in some cases. Urge incontinence is commonly treated with medications, biofeedback or electrical stimulation to the nerves that control the bladder.
Surgery can cure most women with stress incontinence.
One new type of surgery, called the tension-free vaginal tape sling, can be done on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia. No surgery is without risks, however. Potential problems from surgery may include difficulty emptying the bladder and development of urge incontinence. Urogynecology Associates of Louisville is an educational site designed for patients. This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone.