Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Health Center
Mechanical Devices for Urinary Incontinence in Women
Mechanical devices may be used to manage different types of urinary incontinence.
OAB Questions For and From Your Doctor
If your daily schedule is becoming dictated by frequent and sudden urinary urges that leave you scrambling for the nearest bathroom, it might be time to ask a doctor about overactive bladder. Overactive bladder is a broad term that describes certain symptoms: urinary urgency, frequent urination, waking up at least twice a night to urinate, or urge incontinence (leakage of urine). “It’s pretty straightforward. It’s really a diagnosis based on symptoms,” says Donna Y. Deng, MD, MS, a urologist and...
Read the OAB Questions For and From Your Doctor article > >
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Pessary: A
pessary
is a rubber device that is inserted into the
vagina until it touches the cervix. The pessary presses through the vaginal
wall and supports the urethra. It also pinches the urethra closed to help
retain urine in the bladder and decrease stress
incontinence. Some women who have stress incontinence use a pessary just during
activities that are likely to cause urine leakage, such as jogging. But many
pessaries can be worn all the time. - Urethral insert: A thin, flexible tube that is solid rather than hollow (like a catheter) is placed into the urethra to block the leakage of urine.
- External urethral barrier: A self-adhesive patch or a cap is placed over the urethral opening to block the leakage of urine.
What To Expect After Treatment
This section is not applicable to this treatment.
Why It Is Done
Mechanical devices can be used to control stress and mixed urinary incontinence. Because they are inexpensive and have few risks, they are usually tried before surgery, along with other treatments like pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises. Some women who have incontinence but who don't want or can't have surgery may find that mechanical devices work well enough to control their incontinence.
How Well It Works
There is no strong evidence that these devices work to control incontinence. But they are inexpensive and don't have a lot of risks. If they don't work for you, you can always try other things like pelvic floor exercises or surgery.
Risks
Using a urethral insert increases the risk of:
- Urinary tract infection.
- Damage to the urethra.
- Skin irritation.
Using pessaries increases the risk of damaging the:
- Vaginal wall.
- Urethra.
What To Think About
Use of mechanical devices is under your control and can be designed to fit into your lifestyle.
For some women, a tampon inserted in the vagina creates enough pressure to prevent leaking. Tampons are a less expensive option than a pessary, with little risk.
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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
