Treating Incontinence in Women: Special Therapies

The best treatment for you will depend on the type of incontinence you have. Your symptoms, age, and any underlying problems that are found also affect your treatment.

During biofeedback, a sensor is placed in your vagina (and another is placed on your abdomen) to read signals from your pelvic floor muscles.

Biofeedback

This is a technique that can help you learn pelvic floor muscle exercises. A special tampon-shaped sensor is placed in your vagina or rectum. A flat sensor is placed on your stomach. When you contract or relax, your muscles give off signals. The sensors read these signals and show them on a computer screen. A nurse or physical therapist helps you read the signals. This way, you can learn whether you are exercising the right muscles.

Electrical Stimulation

This painless therapy is used for people with very weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles. It uses specialized equipment, which can include sensors or a special chair. A tiny amount of electric current is sent through the muscles of your pelvic floor and bladder to make the muscles contract. This helps the muscles get stronger.

Stimulator Implants

For urge incontinence, a small stimulator device can be implanted under the skin near the stomach. This device gives off mild electrical signals. This blocks extra signals to the bladder muscle and helps the bladder work more normally.