In women, it's caused by a weakening of, or damage to, pelvic muscles and tissue surrounding the urethra. The urethra is the canal that carries urine from the bladder.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 women suffer from some form of incontinence. So, it is likely that many women you know also have an incontinence problem of some sort. Imagine the sadness of so many women suffering in silence, afraid to discuss it amongst themselves or seek medical treatment.

One of the most important reasons women don't seek medical treatment for their incontinence is that they simply don't know what options are available to them. In our practice, we can't tell you how many times we have heard from patients that it's simply a "taboo" subject, and, as such, incontinence problems have existed and lingered for years and years.

"How do I know if I have incontinence?" is something to which everyone can discover by their answer to the following questions:

--Do you leak urine unexpectedly?

--Do you currently wear pads on liners to protect against unplanned leaks?

--Does the urine loss occur during coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending or lifting?

--Does the urine loss occur when you change from a sitting or lying position to a standing
   position?

--Do you leak urine continuously?

--Do you have trouble holding your urine as you hurry to the bathroom?

--Has this urine loss caused you to change your lifestyle?

--When planning a trip or outing, does the availablity of restroom facilities affect your
   decision?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, please contact us for an appointment to be examined and either confirm or deny a diagnosis of incontinence.

The MiniArc: A Simple Solution
Urinary incontinence is correctable. For instance, the Mini Arc Single-Incision Sling from American Medical Systems offers a minimally-invasive approach to treat the problem.

The Mini-Arc is safe, minimally-invasive, performed as an outpatient procedure and requires a very small 1.5cm incision.

With the Mini-Arc, you can return to non-strenuous activities shortly after the procedure (in most cases). There is little to no pain associated with the procedure, and it can be performed under local, regional or general anesthesia, depending on the patient and my assessment.

Having been used on more than 400,000 patients, the MiniArc is estimated to be more than 93% successful.

Stress Urinary Incontinence happens when your pelvic floor becomes weak and can no longer provide adequate support for your urethra. In this procedure, we place the MiniArc's polypropylene mesh under the urethra, which helps restore it to it's normal place in your anatomy. The Mini Arc actually cradles your urethra, gives it support and works to prevent accidental urine leakage (see examples to the right).

Frequently Asked Questions
How will the sling be placed in my body?
We will do this during an outpatient procedure. The MiniArc is small and easy to put in place, and no visible external incisions are needed. And, as noted before, several types of anesthesia can be used in conjunction with this procedure.

What can I expect after the sling is placed?
In most cases, you can return home a few hours after we do the procedure. Although there is little-to-no pain associated with the procedure, we may sometimes prescribe a mild pain medication if we feel it is necessary. And, within two weeks you should be able to resume your activities of daily living, except for sexual intercourse, heavy lifting and/or rigorous exercise.

When will I see results?
Immediately following the procedure in most cases. We encourage you to talk to us and ask us more about this minimally-invasive procedure and how it might help you change your life.

What are the risks?
Every surgical procedure presents risks of one kind or another. In this case, urinary tract infections, symptoms of "urgency" and/or difficulty with urination have been reported following surgery. And, if you're pregnant, or planning future pregnancies, we would not recommend this procedure. For additional information on this topic please talk to us and we can go over any and all of your concerns.

What is my next step?
Make an appointment, and, when you're here, ask us about the Mini Arc Sling System and whether or not, based on the other information you provide during your visit (and your examination), it may be right for you.