What is an office urethral bulking injection?
A urethral bulking injection is an office treatment used to treat stress urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence is the leaking of urine that occurs when pressure is placed on the bladder, usually when you laugh, sneeze, cough, or exercise. During this short procedure, an injection is made around the urethra. By bulking up the urethra, you can expect less unwanted urinary leakage.
How does urethral bulking work?
Injectable bulking implants are made up of calcium hydroxyapatite, which is a naturally occurring component in the body. It is superior to collagen injection as it does not require pre-procedural skin testing and is easier to inject. This gel-like implant will be injected around the urethra at the level of the urethral sphincter, where the urethra and bladder meet. Urethral sphincter muscles control the release of urine from the bladder. The implant will support your urethral sphincter, decreasing your stress urinary incontinence symptoms.
What can I expect during the procedure?
This procedure is done under light sedation at our office in Austin, Texas. Your provider will insert a tiny camera into the urethra, allowing us to see the bladder. The bulking implant will be passed through the scope and injected into the urethral walls on both sides. The implant will cause the urethral walls to close together more effectively. The entire procedure takes 15-30 minutes.
Request an appointment at Central Texas Urogynecology & Continence Center
We encourage women who suffer from stress urinary incontinence to schedule an appointment at our urogynecology & continence center in Austin. Dr. Antonini and staff can determine if urethral bulking can help you. Request an appointment online or give us a call at 512-716-0861 today.
