TVT, a new surgical procedure available at Western Baptist Hospital, offers hope to women who suffer from stress urinary incontinence.

About Stress Urinary Incontinence

More than eleven million women in the United States experience urinary incontinence. Most have what is known as stress urinary incontinence, or SUI, a treatable condition that affects women of all ages. SUI is the unintentional release of urine during normal everyday activities. Women with SUI lose urine when they laugh, sneeze or cough; walk or exercise; or get up from a seated or lying position.

SUI is caused by weakening of the pelvic muscles that can occur after childbirth or menopause. Ordinarily, the urethra maintains a tight seal to prevent involuntary loss of urine. For women with stress urinary incontinence, the pelvic muscles are too weak to support the urethra in its correct position.

About TVT

A new, minimally invasive surgical procedure known as TVT, or Tension-Free Vaginal Tape System, is helping many women overcome the embarrassment of incontinence. Performed on an outpatient basis, the TVT procedure takes only about half an hour to complete. During the surgery, the patient's urethra is carefully restored to its normal position by weaving a "sling" of mesh tape beneath it. After surgery, the tape supports the urethra during a sudden movement, such as a cough or sneeze, allowing it to remain closed. This prevents the involuntary loss of urine,

TVT can accomplish in one procedure what, in the past, took multiple surgeries to achieve. A four-year study showed that 85 percent of patients who received TVT were cured, with ten percent significantly improved. Best of all, any woman with SUI, regardless of age, is a candidate for the TVT procedure.

For More Information

For more information about TVT, please call the Baptist Health Line at (270) 575-2918.

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