It can start with a drop or a dribble when you laugh, exercise, cough or sneeze. Many women think urine leaks are just part of life after having children or as they age.
The con
dition is Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and 20 to 40 percent of all women experience it, Bassel Abouzeid, MD, MHCM, at Carle Health Obstetrics and Gynecology in Peoria said. In his practice, many women experience the condition after a vaginal birth and sometimes weight reduction will alleviate the problem. Others have seen vast improvements from a mid-urethral synthetic mesh (mesh sling) surgically placed under the urethra for support and to prevent leakage. The surgery takes 15 to 20 minutes.
“It’s important to listen to the patient and ask what quality of life she wants to achieve,” Dr. Abouzeid said.
Anita Meeker of Peoria is a fit 65-year-old who said another physician suggested Kegel exercises to strengthen muscles that support the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum to alleviate leakage. She did the exercises to no avail.
“I suffered for two years and the surgery has been life changing for me,” Meeker said. “I was leaking all day long and changing an absorbent pad every 45 minutes to an hour.”
She first noticed a small amount of leakage about 10 years earlier and just accepted it as something caused by organs shifting following a hysterectomy in her 30’s. As the leakage increased, she said she stayed active, always keeping an eye out for the closest bathroom. One of the worst experiences was trying to enjoy a hiking trip in northern Illinois where there were no restrooms nearby, she said.
Meeker said she learned of the obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Peoria when she took her
mother there for an appointment and saw how well she was treated. The clinic, located near Carle Health Proctor Hospital, offers a broad continuum of care. Its providers include a midwife, a nurse practitioner certified in treating menopause and managing osteoporosis, and Dr. Abouzeid, who performs minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries as well as prolapse and incontinence procedures.
“His bedside manner is amazing,” Meeker said. She said recuperation from the surgery on Nov. 11, 2024, involved not lifting more than 5 pounds for about six weeks.
Dr. Abouzeid said patients are fully informed of how the procedure works as well as possible complications, most of which are resolved with time. While solving incontinence, the surgery also results in patients experiencing a better sexual response, Abouzeid said.
To learn more about the high-quality care provided at Carle Health Obstetrics and Gynecology in Greater Peoria, click here.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare, Community
Tags: Carle, gynecology, obstetrics, Peoria, Women's Health