Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) Treatments

If you have stress urinary incontinence (SUI), regain bladder control with treatment at Billings Clinic. Explore nerve stimulation, urethral bulking and surgery to stop leaks and restore confidence.

What is SUI?

SUI causes bladder leakage during everyday activities. One in three women experiences this condition. It often happens because of getting older, pregnancy, childbirth or weakened pelvic floor muscles.

What Causes SUI?

Leaks happen when the muscles around your bladder weaken. This makes it harder to hold urine when pressure increases. Leaks can range from a few drops to enough to wet your clothes.

SUI Symptoms

You may need treatment if you have any of the following symptoms:

Difficulty fully emptying your bladder
Frequent or uncontrollable urges to go to the bathroom
Urine leakage before you reach the bathroom
Urine leakage during normal daily activities

Impact on Daily Life

You might notice leaks when you:

Bend over
Exercise
Laugh or cough
Sneeze
Stand up

SUI can impact your life in many ways. It can affect your family, relationships, work and even how you spend your free time. SUI can also reduce your self-confidence. Treatments are available at Billings Clinic to help get back control.

Ways to Treat SUI

Get treatment for SUI so you can enjoy daily activities without worry. Treatment options aim to stop leaks. They include:

Minimally invasive procedures that don’t use incisions
Surgery

Nerve Stimulation

Sacral neuromodulation treatment uses a small device to send gentle signals to the nerves that control your bladder and bowel. This stimulation can help restore normal function. This advanced treatment:

Helps prevent accidents
Provides lasting relief
Reduces bathroom urgency
Works for both bladder and bowel control

Clinical studies show this treatment can manage overactive bladder and bowel issues long-term.

Urethral Bulking Agent

This long-lasting treatment treats stress urinary incontinence. Your doctor gives you a series of bulking agent injections. These injections are clinically proven to provide you with symptom relief.

Bulkamid

Bulkamid is a soft, water-based gel bulking agent that helps stop bladder leaks. It’s a safe, effective treatment lasting for up to seven years. In clinical studies, 92% of women said they were cured or improved after bulkamid treatment.

This treatment involves three to four injections . Your doctor injects the bulkamid gel near your urethra (the tube that carries urine). The gel helps “bulk” it up, which prevents urine leakage. The injections only take 10 to 15 minutes.

Bladder Control Surgery

Your doctor might recommend surgery using mesh to treat SUI. It’s also known as transvaginal mesh or mid-urethral sling surgery.

During this procedure, your doctor puts a thin mesh strip under your urethra. This gives it extra support and prevents urine leaks. It’s the most effective treatment for SUI; like any surgery, it carries some risks. Talk to your doctor about whether this treatment is right for you.