Urinary incontinence is leakage of urine or loss of bladder control. In the United States, millions of women suffer from urinary incontinence, and its devastating and embarrassing side effects. Billions of dollars are spent on incontinence protection each year. The two most common types of urinary incontinence are stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge incontinence (overactive bladder).

Stress Incontinence.  SUI is caused by a weakening of the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. Women with SUI commonly have urine leakage when they laugh, cough, sneeze, walk, pick up a heavy object or engage in exercise or sports activities.

Urge Incontinence.  Women with and overactive bladder often feel a strong need to go to the bathroom but an inability to get there in time. Other symptoms include urinary frequency and the need to urinate several times during the night. Some women with urge incontinence lose urine when they hear running water, change position, or put their key in the door. Overactive bladder is caused by unexpected contractions of the bladder muscle.

These two common types of urinary incontinence are treatable ailments, however they are treated differently. It is important to obtain an accurate diagnosis from an expert in the field in order to ensure the proper treatment. A complete evaluation involves a history and physical examination, and often, urodynamics testing. 


A Center of Excellence in Evaluation and Treatment of Incontinence

Women’s Wellness Center has been designated a “Center of Excellence” in pelvic floor diagnostics and treatment by LABORIE, the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced pelvic floor diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Board certified ob/gyn Dr. Craig McCoy is an expert in evaluating and treating incontinence and consults for several top medical companies that produce new technologies for treatment of female incontinence. Through his role as a consultant, Dr. McCoy enjoys training other physicians on these state-of-the-art procedures. Dr. McCoy and our staff incorporate the most advanced technologies in the world to diagnose and treat many forms of female urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders, vastly improving the quality of life of women suffering from these maladies.

Below are listed several minimally invasive procedures that can be conveniently performed in our office. In addition to these office procedures, Dr. McCoy is skilled in traditional surgical treatments, using either a vaginal or abdominal approach. A complete evaluation will aid in deciding which treatment is right for you.

Minimally Invasive and Non-invasive Treatments

The Renessa System.  A non-surgical approach to treat SUI, The Renessa treatment uses a small probe which a physician passes through the urethra. The treatment can be performed in the convenience of our office. There are no incisions, bandages or dressings required. Recovery is rapid and comfortable, with minimal post-procedure limitations. The Renessa procedure uses radiofrequency energy to generate controlled heat at low temperatures in tissue targets within the lower urinary tract. The heat denatures collagen in the tissue at multiple small treatment sites. Upon healing, the treated tissue is firmer, increasing resistance to involuntary leakage at times of heightened intra-abdominal pressure, such as laughing, coughing or during exercise, thereby reducing or eliminating SUI episodes. Click here for more detailed information on The Renessa System.

Macroplastique.  Another minimally invasive technique, Macroplastique is an injectable soft-tissue urethral bulking agent for treating SUI. The special Macroplastique material is injected into the tissues surrounding the urethra. The increased "bulk" allows the urethra to close more effectively and prevents urine from leaking. The procedure can be performed in our office in approximately 30 minutes time.  A small optical instrument (cystoscope), placed in the urethra, is used to allow the urethra and bladder to be visualized while injecting Macroplastique into the surrounding urethral tissue. A local anesthetic is used to ensure patients are comfortable during the procedure. Click here for more information on Macroplastique. 

InterStim Therapy.  One possible cause of overactive bladder (urge incontinence) is miscommunication between the brain and the nerves that control the bladder (sacral nerves), which can cause bladder control problems such as leaks, sudden urge to go, or going too often. Interstim Therapy is a minimally invasive neuromodulation therapy that targets the communication problem between the brain and the sacral nerves. The theory behind InterStim Therapy is that stimulation of the sacral nerves with mild electrical pulses will reduce the signals to the nervous system, which may reduce symptoms. Interstim has proven to be an effective treatment for incontinence well as interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder disorder that causes frequent urination. Click here for more information on InterStim Therapy. 

Urgent PC.  This is a non-invasive, painless treatment for urge incontinence, or overactive bladder. It is particularly helpful for women who cannot tolerate medications used to treat urge incontinence. The procedure is called percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), and involves inserting a needle electrode into the ankle, close to the tibial nerve, and stimulating the nerve for 30 minutes. It works by stimulating the pelvic nerves involved in bladder control, these nerves being reached via electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in the leg. Patients will feel a tingling sensation. The system used to deliver the treatment, the Urgent PC, developed by Uroplasty, is FDA approved for treatment of urge incontinence. Click here for more information on Urgent PC. 

Biofeedback and Pelvic Floor Therapy.  This non-surgical form of therapy is used to retrain the pelvic floor and/or bladder muscles. It can be useful for treating either stress or urge incontinence. Typically, pelvic floor therapy consists of weekly sessions for six weeks. The first session will last about one hour, and the remaining sessions will be shorter. Using biofeedback and electrical stimulation techniques, our pelvic therapy nurse will evaluate your pelvic muscle strength and instruct you on how to properly isolate and exercise these pelvic floor muscles. A computer will be used to guide you and monitor your progress. Our pelvic therapy nurse will educate you in these techniques so that you can continue the exercises at home. Click here to learn more about pelvic floor therapy.