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MEDICINE

NON-SURGICAL ALTERNATIVES FOR

FEMALE INCONTINENCE

By Dr. Timothy Hlavinka

medicine, rapid technological advancement is com- by breakthrough technologies that can produce impressive results,
In monplace. As less-invasive treatments evolve into no scalpel necessary. In an historically challenging arena for urolo-
non-invasive ones, it is much less common for a
gists and gynecologists, this is a welcome change.
new treatment to turn our heads as clinicians. The American Urological Association estimates 30-50 percent of
But as non-invasive alternatives become more pervasive and ef- females experience significant urinary incontinence, with prevalence
fective, demand for them becomes patient driven. More than ever, increasing with age. An American College of Obstetrics and Gyne-
the answer to the universal question, "Doctor, are there any options cology impact survey projects that more than 40 million American
besides surgery?," is returned with an emphatic, "yes!" women will have urinary incontinence over the next three decades,
associated with staggering economic and quality of life loss.
New solutions to female incontinence Many women avoid discussions of bladder problems with their
Take urinary stress incontinence, for example. doctors either out of embarrassment or fear that that there are no
Women now have a wide range of non-surgical options powered alternatives to surgery. Indeed, the recent vaginal mesh controversy

24 San Antonio Medicine • March 2018