Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine which leads to social and hygiene problems. It occurs in healthy people as well as in association with other diseases and can have several causes.

It is calculated that between 30-40% of middle-aged women have some type of incontinence and this percentage increases with age.

It is important to differentiate between the types of incontinence and to make an accurate diagnosis as treatments are very different; the following types will be discussed:

1. Stress incontinence (SI): This is the involuntary loss of urine associated with physical effort causing an increase in abdominal pressure (such as coughing, laughing, running or walking).
2. Urge incontinence (overactive bladder) appears when the bladder muscle starts to contract and expel urine ahead of time, even if the bladder is still not full.
3. Mixed urinary incontinence.
   It is calculated that 30% of women with incontinence suffer from the 2 types previously mentioned.
4. Continuous Incontinence.
   This is the involuntary and continuous leakage of urine. This can be due to a vesico-vaginal fistula (communication between the bladder and the vagina)  and usually presents after gynaecological surgery such as a hysterectomy.
5. Other types of incontinence.

In all cases there are measures which can lessen the problem, depending on the type of incontinence and each patient’s circumstances, one or more will be selected.

• Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
• CO2 laser
• Bladder re-education
• Drug treatment
• Surgery

HC Marbella’s Gynaecology Department has a new laser solution for the comprehensive wellbeing of the female intimate area: The GyneLase™ System using fractional CO2 laser technology. This intimate laser provides safe, effective non-surgical treatment for the effects of pregnancy, childbirth, ageing or menopause on a woman’s body, greatly increasing her quality of life.

 
How does it work?
 
The GyneLase™ fractional CO2 laser produces a controlled and highly accurate thermal effect on the vaginal mucosa, causing contraction and retention of the tissue, returning the vaginal canal to its natural elasticity. The laser energy deposited along the vaginal wall warms the tissue without damaging it, stimulating the formation of new collagen in the endopelvic fascia. The procedures are quite simple to perform, without complications and recovery is rapid. Speak to your CO2 laser specialist in Marbella about your queries.

 
Applications
 
Mild and moderate female urinary incontinence
Urine loss suffered by women with stress urinary incontinence during sports, laughing, or sneezing. The laser’s heat, encourages collagen production in the vaginal mucosa, strengthening the anterior wall of the vagina.

Vaginal relaxation syndrome and vaginal atrophy
The intimate laser renews the collagen of the vagina that has lost tone and elasticity following childbirth and with age. It is also beneficial in menopause because as increases mucosal thickness, lubrication and genital microcirculation.

Functional and aesthetic genital surgery
GyneLase™ helps to redesign and rejuvenate the appearance of the external genitals, achieving greater uniformity. It is also used for genital whitening.

Others

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Cystocele
• Rectocele
• Vulval lichen