Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common problem in women that causes the involuntary loss of urine during coughing, sneezing, laughing or physical exertion such as running or climbing stairs.
The cause for this involuntary loss of urine is the weakening of the urethral closure mechanism, which is the result of reduced muscular tone in the pelvic floor region. The main contributing factors are vaginal child birth, obesity and aging.
Until now SUI was treated non invasively through muscular training, known as Kegel exercises, which are only marginally effective since they rely on daily compliance. SUI is also treated invasively with a surgical implant known as a urethral sling. This procedure requires hospitalisation, recovery time and could potentially cause serious complications.