Urinary incontinence is not an uncommon problem in adults. Female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is normally the most common type of urinary incontinence, affecting fifteen to sixteen million women in the United States alone. Women of all ages are affected including 25% of women between the ages of 30 and 59.
The most common surgical operation for SUI is the sling procedure, in which a strip of tissue or synthetic material is implanted under the urethra to provide compression and improve closure. Although surgery for SUI can be effective for some patients, these procedures have limited durability, require general anesthesia and can result in lengthy recovery times. It is common for a person to have more than one cause of incontinence. Chronic incontinence is more common in women than in men.
In childhood, girls usually develop bladder control at an earlier age than boys, and bedwetting -- or nocturnal enuresis -- is less common in girls than in boys. However, adult women are far more likely than adult men to experience UI because of anatomical differences in the pelvic region and the changes induced by pregnancy and childbirth. The first and most common treatment for prostate cancer is through surgery. This alternative will usually be suggested if the patient is relatively young, and in reasonable physical condition.
