Post Childbirth and Stress Urinary Incontinence

Post Childbirth and Stress Urinary Incontinence

Pregnancy and post childbirth are undoubtedly very important stages in the life of a woman. They are periods in which the mother-to-be has to look after herself, prepare for the physical changes to her body and deal with the psychological effects.

It is well known from the literature and the testimonies of women who have experienced this process that pregnancy and post childbirth are not easy – not everything is bright and rosy. The reality is that the body, in order to undertake the gestation process, has to perform additional work, hormones become disrupted and one of the main discomforts suffered by women is stress urinary incontinence – small leakages of urine caused by laughing, coughing or making a slight effort.

Why is there a risk of suffering from urinary incontinence during pregnancy?

As the pregnancy progresses and the embryo grows, the uterus increases in size, resulting in the displacement of organs. This causes fatigue and tiredness and can produce an increased urge to urinate, which, in some cases, results in stress urinary incontinence.

This kind of incontinence is due to a malfunctioning pelvic floor. According to a study conducted by the Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research (CAHTA), 39% of pregnant women (of the population studied) suffered from urinary incontinence, mainly of the stress variety, which was mild to moderate in 80% of cases. The study also noted that vaginal birth is a risk factor for urinary incontinence as a result of episiotomy procedures or the use of forceps; 49% of incidents in the women studied were attributed to these causes.

In conclusion, bearing the weight of a baby, or babies, childbirth and gynaecological techniques and instruments can cause many women to experience changes that lead to stress urinary incontinence.

INTERmedic, a leading manufacturer of laser platforms offering minimally-invasive procedures with precise and effective results, recently introduced Gynelase^TM, a CO₂ laser for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and vaginal relaxation.

Gynelase^TM combines the power of this unique CO₂ laser with the delicacy of treatment necessary for use in an area as sensitive as the inside of the vagina.

How does Gynelase^TM help in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence?

Firstly, the Gynelase effect produces increased tone and tautness in the vaginal wall, helping to correct the flaccidity and widening of the vagina that occurs after childbirth. It can also correct laxity of the pelvic floor.

Secondly, through a tissue regeneration effect. The heat of the laser promotes the generation of fibroblasts, and, consequently, the manufacture of collagen and elastin proteins, helping to create a network of collagen and elastic fibres that provide support to the pelvic floor, thickening it and increasing tissue consistency, and helps to restructure the collagen in the vaginal mucosa and submucosa, reinforcing the urethra and the anterior wall of the vagina to restore normal urinary control.

How is the procedure performed?

Gynelase^TM is equipped with an endovaginal probe that emits fractional laser energy inside the vaginal canal without incisions and the treatment is performed on an outpatient basis.

• The main advantages of Gynelase^TM are that it is a painless, minimally-invasive and complication-free treatment that leaves no scarring, can be applied with topical anaesthesia and enables patients to immediately return to their everyday lives.
• It allows the vagina to recover its tone, firmness and elasticity.
• It helps to thicken the tissue of the pelvic floor by creating new collagen and restructuring the existing.
• It prevents stress urinary incontinence.
• It reduces the diameter of the vaginal canal.

Other minimally-invasive solutions with our range of laser products:

Regaining a good figure: flaccidity in the abdominal area (ContrÂge™ US).

Treatment of varicose veins. (Multidiode Endo™ laser 1470 4G).

Vaginal relaxation following vaginal childbirth or multiple births (Gynelase^TM).

Removal of blemishes and stretch marks (Silklase™).

Author: Mª Alejandra Aguilar for INTERmedic