Risks Associated with Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment

This guest post was supposed to be posted a while ago. Nevertheless, here it is. It is a very interesting read, and I thank Jasmine McCarthy for taking the time to write it. She contacted me a couple of months ago on behalf of the Public Outreach Department at http://www.DrugWatch.com and wanted me to feature her guest post which contains some important information regarding women and the treatments they seek for stress incontinence. The post begins below the line.

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Some form of urinary incontinence affects 30 to 50  percent of women. This percentage increases as women age. Although it  is considered normal, there are things women can do to prevent or reverse  it.

One common form of poor bladder control, Stress Urinary  Incontinence (SUI), is commonly treated using a surgical procedure where  a mesh bladder sling is inserted to provide support for the bladder  and the urethra.

Unfortunately, the vaginal  mesh can pose considerable health risks when it is  inserted transvaginally (through the vagina). For many women, these  complications have caused permanent damage. Currently, there are thousands  of lawsuits, as a result of the medical complications associated with  bladder slings and transvaginal mesh.

What is Transvaginal Mesh?

Transvaginal mesh has gained widespread popularity  since its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a decade ago. It  has been used to treat both SUI and Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), another  condition that is common in women between the ages of 50 and 79.

Unfortunately, transvaginal mesh is known to cause  complications in both SUI and POP patients. In fact, upward of 10 percent  of women who have had transvaginal mesh inserted to treat POP have experienced  some form of complication. To make matters worse, the health problems  that arise from transvaginal mesh are not always reversible. Even when  the problems can be reversed, women may have to undergo multiple revision  surgeries before symptoms improve. These issues led to one of the first  manufacturers of the mesh to participate in a voluntary transvaginal  mesh recall.

Complications Related to Bladder Slings

There are multiple complications that can occur when  bladder slings are inserted transvaginally. These include:

• Erosion    of the mesh material into vaginal or other tissues.

• Organ    perforation.

• Repeat    infections, especially urinary tract infections.

• Pain    during sexual intercourse.

• General    pain and discomfort that can occur as the mesh contracts and shrinks,    pulling the tissues with it.

• Chronic    inflammation caused by the body's tendency to reject foreign objects.

• Incontinence.

• Difficulty    with bowel functions.

Alternatives to Risky Vaginal Mesh Materials

There are alternatives to transvaginal mesh surgery.  Women who elect to undergo surgical procedures to treat SUI should discuss  alternative options with their health care professional, including abdominal  placement of a bladder sling.

Women who have already had a bladder sling implanted  should observe a regular examination schedule and report any potential  complications immediately.