Product News and Recalls

Have answers ready when getting incontinence treatment

Your doctor will likely ask you a series of questions if you’re seeking treatment for urinary incontinence. Anticipating those questions and having answers for them may allow more time for the points you want to discuss further, the Mayo Clinic advises.

Although urinary incontinence can be a troubling condition, it is treatable. But some treatments can cause problems as well.

Transvaginal mesh implants, marketed as a treatment for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, have generated widespread lawsuits from their tendency to fail and cause health problems. The most common reported problem is the vaginal mesh eroding and sticking through the walls of the bladder and vagina, causing severe pain.

The Mayo Clinic has provided a list of questions your doctor may ask regarding urinary incontinence. Having the answers prepared may make your doctor visit more productive.

  • When did you first have symptoms?
  • Are those symptoms continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Does anything seem to improve the symptoms?
  • Does anything seem to worsen the symptoms?
  • How often do you have to urinate?
  • When do you leak urine?
  • Do you have trouble emptying your bladder?
  • Is there blood in your urine?
  • Do you smoke?
  • How often do you drink alcohol?
  • How often do you consume caffeinated drinks?
  • How often do you eat spicy, acidic or sugary foods?

If you have a vaginal mesh implant, you should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a mesh lawyer to discuss your legal rights.

See more information about urinary incontinence here:

https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-incontinence/DS00404