Medicus, Vol. 24 No. 1 Urologija, 2015.
Review article
Conservative Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Defects
Sandra Nađ Škegro
Abstract
Incontinence is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide, but it is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Almost 50% of women above 50 years of age have a certain degree of pelvic organ prolapse, and about 30% of elderly women have problems in terms of stress incontinence. Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. Stress incontinence is defined as an involuntary loss of urine during exercise, sneezing or coughing. Pelvic organ prolapse is defined as the descent of pelvic organs into the vagina or through the introitus of the vagina. Detailed medical history, gynaecological examination, various clinical tests and, if necessary, cystoscopy and urodynamic evaluation must be performed to obtain the proper diagnosis. Treatment can be conservative or operative. The available conservative treatment methods include different hygienic dietary measures, behavioural therapy, exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, biofeedback, different types of pessaries, vaginal weights, electrical stimulation and extracorporeal magnetic innervation. Although greater success is achieved with surgical treatment of incontinence and pelvic floor defects, conservative treatments are suitable for patients with moderate symptoms, elderly patients with comorbidities, patients with high surgical risk and those who do not want surgical treatment. In a significant percentage of patients conservative treatments improve their conditions and quality of life, and can be recommended as first-line therapy.
Keywords
stress incontinence; pelvic floor defects; pelvic organ prolapse; conservative therapy
Hrčak ID:
144619
URI
Publication date:
8.9.2015.
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