Stress incontinence is a leakage of urine that happens when you are active or when there is pressure on your pelvic area. Walking or doing other exercise, lifting, coughing, sneezing, and laughing can all cause stress incontinence. You had surgery to correct this problem. Your doctor operated on the ligaments and other body tissues that hold your bladder or urethra in place.
You may be tired and need more rest for about 4 weeks. You may have pain or discomfort in your vaginal area or leg for a few months. Light bleeding or discharge from the vagina is normal.
You may go home with a catheter (tube) to drain urine from your bladder.
Take care of your surgical incision (cut).
Nothing should go into the vagina for at least 6 weeks. If you are menstruating, do not use tampons for at least 6 weeks. Use pads instead. Do NOT douche. Do not have sexual intercourse during this time.
Try to prevent constipation. Straining during bowel movements will put pressure on your incision.
Your doctor may ask you to wear compression stockings for 4 to 6 weeks. These will improve your circulation and help prevent blood clots from forming.
Know the signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection. Ask your doctor or nurse for information about this. Call your doctor if you think you might have a urinary tract infection.
You may slowly start your normal household activities. But be careful not to get overtired.
Walk up and down stairs slowly. Walk each day. Start slowly with 5-minute walks 3 or 4 times a day. Slowly increase the length of your walks.
Do not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for at least 4 to 6 weeks. Lifting heavy objects puts too much stress on your incision.
Do NOT do strenuous activities, such as golfing, playing tennis, bowling, running, biking, weight lifting, gardening or mowing, and vacuuming for 6 to 8 weeks. Ask your doctor when it is okay to start.
You may be able to return to work within a few weeks if your work is not strenuous. Ask your doctor when it will be okay for you to go back.
You may start sexual activity after 6 weeks. Ask your doctor when it will be okay to start.
Your doctor may send you home with a urinary catheter if you cannot urinate on your own yet. The catheter is a tube that drains urine from your bladder into a bag. You will be taught how to use and care for your catheter before you go home. See also: Cather care - indwelling
You may also need to do self-catheterization.
See also: Self catheterization - women
Call your doctor if you have:
Open retropubic colposuspension - discharge; Laparoscopic retropubic colposuspension - discharge; Needle suspension - discharge; Burch colposuspension vagino-obturator shelf - discharge; VOS - discharge; Vaginal sling - discharge; Pubo-vaginal sling - discharge; Pereyra, Stamey, Raz, and Gittes procedures - discharge; Tension free vaginal tape - discharge; Transobdurator sling - discharge
Chapple CR. Retropubic suspension surgery for incontinence in women. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology, 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2007:chap 65.
Dmochowski RR, Blaivas JM, Gormley EA, et al; Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Update Panel of the American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. J Urol. 2010;183:1906-1914
Takacs EB, Kobashi KC. Minimally invasive treatment of stress urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse. Urol Clin North Am. 2007;35(3):467-476.
Updated by: Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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