UNITTAS – meaning “United” in Spanish. Our hospital is conceived by the united efforts and collective participation of senior, well experienced medical professionals and professionals from other service sectors.
UNITTAS – meaning “United” in Spanish. Our hospital is conceived by the united efforts and collective participation of senior, well experienced medical professionals and professionals from other service sectors.
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a common yet often unspoken condition where physical activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting cause involuntary urine leakage. At Unittas Hospital, we understand that living with stress urinary incontinence can significantly impact your confidence, social life, and overall quality of life. You don't have to accept bladder leakage as a normal part of aging or motherhood.
Our compassionate team of experienced urogynecologists and pelvic floor specialists is dedicated to helping you regain bladder control and reclaim your active lifestyle. With advanced diagnostic technology, comprehensive treatment options ranging from conservative therapies to minimally invasive surgical procedures, and personalized care plans, we provide effective stress urinary incontinence treatment in Chennai tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Schedule a consultation with our specialists
Call Now: 044-4012-4012Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is a specific type of urinary incontinence characterized by the involuntary loss of urine during physical activities that increase abdominal pressure. Unlike urge incontinence, where you feel a sudden, intense urge to urinate, stress incontinence occurs without any warning or sensation of needing to be avoided.
The term "stress" in this context refers to physical stress or pressure on the bladder, not emotional or psychological stress. When you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, or lift heavy objects, the pressure inside your abdomen increases. In a healthy pelvic floor system, the muscles and tissues supporting your bladder and urethra can withstand this pressure. However, when these support structures are weakened or damaged, the pressure overcomes the urethral closure mechanism, resulting in urine leakage.
Recognizing the specific stress urinary incontinence symptoms helps distinguish it from other types of bladder control problems and ensures you receive the most appropriate treatment. These symptoms are directly related to physical activities that increase abdominal pressure.
The hallmark sign of stress urinary incontinence is involuntary urine leakage that occurs specifically during physical activities, without any sensation of urgency or warning.
Daily Activities: Coughing or sneezing, laughing, bending over, standing up from sitting position.
Physical Exertion: Lifting heavy objects, exercise or sports activities, running or jumping, high-impact aerobics.
Intimate Activities: Sexual intercourse and orgasm.
Mild SUI: Small amounts of leakage during forceful activities like sneezing, coughing, or vigorous exercise
Moderate SUI: Leakage during less forceful activities such as walking quickly, standing from seated position, or light exercise
Severe SUI: Leakage with minimal activity including standing, walking slowly, or even postural changes
Understanding the stress urinary incontinence causes and identifying your personal risk factors is essential for both prevention and treatment. SUI results from weakening or damage to the pelvic floor muscles, connective tissues, and nerves that support the bladder and urethra.
| Primary Cause | Description / Details |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy and Childbirth |
• Pregnancy: The growing uterus increases pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles. Hormonal changes soften connective tissues. • Vaginal delivery: Stretching or tearing of pelvic floor muscles and nerves during childbirth, especially with prolonged labor, large babies, or instrumental deliveries (forceps/vacuum). • Multiple pregnancies: Risk rises with each additional pregnancy and vaginal delivery. |
| Age-Related Changes |
• Natural weakening of pelvic floor muscles with aging. • Decreased estrogen levels after menopause reduce tissue elasticity and strength. • General loss of muscle tone and connective tissue support. |
| Pelvic Surgery |
• Hysterectomy: May damage pelvic support structures. • Other pelvic surgeries can affect bladder support or nerve function. • Previous incontinence surgeries may fail or cause complications. |
| Chronic Increased Abdominal Pressure |
• Chronic coughing from smoking, asthma, or bronchitis. • Chronic constipation causing frequent straining. • Repetitive heavy lifting at work or during exercise. • Chronic obesity placing constant pressure on pelvic organs. |
Accurate diagnosis is key to effective stress urinary incontinence treatment. At Unittas Hospital, we use a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to identify the type, severity, and causes of your condition, ensuring a personalized treatment plan.
| Diagnostic Category | Purpose | Key Components |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Consultation & Medical History | To understand your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical background. |
• Symptom characteristics – when and how leakage occurs • Duration and progression of symptoms • Impact on daily life and emotional wellbeing • Obstetric history – pregnancies, deliveries, complications • Medical/surgical history – prior pelvic surgeries, medications • Lifestyle factors – diet, exercise, smoking, hydration. |
| Physical Examination | To assess pelvic health and identify anatomical or muscular issues. |
• Visual inspection – check for prolapse, atrophy, or abnormalities. • Pelvic floor assessment – strength and tone. • Stress (cough) test – leakage observation. • Neurological exam – nerve and reflex function. |
| Bladder Diary | To track urination and leakage patterns over several days. |
• Record 3-7 days of data • Note fluid intake, urination times, leakage episodes, and pad use. |
| Urinalysis & Urine Culture | To rule out infections or underlying conditions. |
• Detects urinary tract infection (UTI). • Identify blood, glucose, or chemical abnormalities. |
| Post-Void Residual (PVR) Measurement | To check how well the bladder empties after urination. |
• Ultrasound measurement of residual urine. • Detects incomplete emptying, overflow, or bladder dysfunction. |
| Pad Test | To measure the amount of urine leakage objectively. |
• Weigh absorbent pads before and after activities. • Helps determine severity of incontinence. |
| Advanced Urodynamic Studies | To evaluate bladder and urethral function in complex cases. |
• Cystometry – bladder pressure & capacity. • Uroflowmetry – urine flow rate. • Leak point pressure test • Urethral pressure profilometry. • EMG – pelvic muscle & nerve evaluation. |
| Imaging Studies | To visualize pelvic anatomy and identify structural problems. |
• Pelvic ultrasound – uterus, bladder, and organs. • VCUG (voiding cystourethrography) – X-ray during urination. • MRI – detailed pelvic floor anatomy. |
| Cystoscopy | To directly view the bladder and urethra using a thin scope. |
• Rules out structural issues and bladder abnormalities. • Evaluates bladder wall and capacity. |
At Unittas Hospital, we offer personalized, evidence-based care for stress urinary incontinence, including advanced stress urinary incontinence surgery when needed. Our expert team tailors treatment plans to your symptom severity, underlying causes, and lifestyle goals to help you regain control and confidence.
These are often the first line of management for mild to moderate cases:
While medications play a limited role in SUI, certain treatments can help:
For patients who do not respond to conservative measures:
Urethral Bulking Injections: Outpatient procedure that adds volume around the urethra to reduce leakage. Offers short recovery and immediate improvement.
When conservative therapies are ineffective or symptoms are severe, surgical intervention may be recommended:
At Unittas Hospital, care continues beyond treatment. Our specialists provide:
Specialized Urogynecology Expertise: Our board-certified urogynecologists have advanced fellowship training specifically in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, with years of experience treating thousands of women with stress urinary incontinence.
Comprehensive Treatment Approach: We offer the complete spectrum of care from conservative pelvic floor physiotherapy to advanced minimally invasive surgery, ensuring you receive the most appropriate treatment for your specific condition.
State-of-the-Art Diagnostic Facilities: Advanced urodynamics laboratory, high-resolution 3D/4D pelvic ultrasound, digital fluoroscopy, on-site cystoscopy suite, and computerized bladder function testing.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Excellence: Expertise in laparoscopic procedures including Burch colposuspension, mid-urethral sling procedures with high success rates, single-incision mini-slings, and autologous fascial sling techniques.
Dedicated Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy: Specialized physiotherapists trained in pelvic floor dysfunction, biofeedback and electrical stimulation technology, personalized exercise programs, and one-on-one supervised training sessions.
Multidisciplinary Team Approach: Collaboration between urogynecologists, pelvic floor physiotherapists, urologists when needed, dietitians for weight management, and psychological support services.
Our experts will help determine the best approach for your condition
Book ConsultationNo. While SUI is common after childbirth or with aging, it's not normal and shouldn't be ignored. Effective treatments are available, and most women see major improvement or complete recovery with proper care.
Kegel exercises can improve mild to moderate SUI in 50-70% of women if done correctly and consistently. Our physiotherapists provide training and biofeedback for best results. Surgery is only recommended if conservative methods don't work or symptoms are severe.
Surgery offers excellent outcomes. Mid-urethral sling procedures have 80-90% success, while Burch colposuspension achieves 70-85%. At Unittas Hospital, our results meet or exceed these rates, with most women regaining confidence and quality of life.
Most women return home the same day or after an overnight stay. Light activities resume in about a week, and normal activities in 2-4 weeks. Full healing takes around 6 weeks. Recovery from laparoscopic Burch colposuspension may take slightly longer.
Complications are rare but can include bleeding, infection, temporary difficulty urinating, or mesh-related issues (if synthetic sling is used). Our expert surgeons at Unittas Hospital use proven, safe techniques and discuss all risks beforehand.
Recurrence is uncommon but may occur if factors like obesity, chronic cough, or heavy lifting persist. Maintaining a healthy weight and continuing pelvic floor exercises help prevent relapse. Most women enjoy long-term results.
It depends on symptom severity and your family plans. If you expect future pregnancies soon, conservative care is advised. However, if SUI affects daily life, treatment shouldn't be delayed. Our specialists will help you choose the best approach.
Yes. Losing even 5-10% of body weight can reduce leakage episodes by up to 50%. Weight loss relieves pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor. We offer dietary and physiotherapy support for lasting improvement.
Yes. Most insurance plans cover SUI diagnosis, therapy, and surgery since it's a medical necessity. Our billing team at Unittas Hospital assists with insurance verification and offers transparent, flexible payment options.
Keep a bladder diary for 3-7 days, list your medications, and bring past medical records. Be open about your symptoms, our specialists are experienced and discreet. This helps ensure a thorough, personalized evaluation.
Don't let bladder leakage affect your quality of life. Schedule your appointment now.
Call Us: 044-4012-4012
