Definition of Urinary incontinence - vaginal sling procedures:

Vaginal sling procedures help control stress incontinence, urine leakage that can happen when you laugh, cough, sneeze, lift things, or exercise. They help close your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside) and the bladder neck (the part of the bladder that connects to the urethra).

See also:

• Artificial sphincter surgery - urinary
• Urinary incontinence - collagen implants
• Urinary incontinence - retropubic suspension
• Urinary incontinence - tension-free vaginal tape

Description:

Vaginal sling procedures use either tissue from your body, tissue from someone else's body, or synthetic (man-made) material.

The doctor will make 1 small incision (cut) in your vagina and another small incision just above your pubic hair or in the creases of your thighs. Most of the operation is done through the cut in your vagina.

The doctor creates a sling from the body tissue or synthetic material. The sling passes under your urethra bladder neck. The doctor attaches the sling to tissues in your lower belly that are very strong.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Vaginal sling procedures are done to treat stress incontinence.

Most of the time, your doctor will try drugs and bladder retraining before talking about surgery with you. If you have tried those things and you are still having problems with urine leakage, surgery may be your best option.