When urine loss develops into a pattern of leakage serious enough to disrupt your lifestyle or daily routine, it is time to talk to your healthcare professional and get help.

Minor bladder control problems are frequently managed with absorbent pads, or absorbent underwear. These are often stop-gap measures that do not address the cause of a bladder control problem. In fact, early dependency on these products may actually delay efforts to get control of urinary function. Improper use of absorbent products can also contribute to skin irritation and infection. Disposable products can cost anywhere from $200 to $400 per month depending on the amount of urine loss.⁶    

Bladder control problems can lead to social restrictions to the point that individuals may avoid normal interaction with friends or family. Women with severe incontinence were found to be 80 percent more likely to have depression than continent women. Even those women with mild to moderate incontinence were 40 percent more likely to have depression than those who had no bladder control problems.⁹  This is another reason why treatment is so crucial.

With the use of improved absorbent materials and the total program of bladder control offered by the evadri System, you and your healthcare professional may be able to effectively manage your bladder control problems. Regaining bladder control is a major step toward regaining control of your life.

Treatment options include:

Medication

Surgery

The evadri System

Medication
Overactive bladder, urinary frequency and urgency, and urge incontinence may be treated with drugs. Several types of medication are available for treating overactive bladder. These drugs are classified as antimuscarinic, or anticholinergic agents. Drugs used to treat overactive bladder affect the nerve and muscle function of the bladder making the muscles relax, and thus reducing the frequency and intensity of the bladder contractions. Drugs such as oxybutynin and tolterodine have been used for several years. Several other drugs such as trospium chloride, darifenacin and solifenacin are also available in the United States.¹⁵ 

Many patients have success managing their bladder control issues with these medications. In a study of 197 women age 55 and older, oxybutynin demonstrated additional effectiveness when combined with a complete training program and the type of treatment offered by the evadri System.^5,7

Side effects may include dry mouth, upset stomach, and blurred vision. Taking medications for other conditions can reduce or exaggerate the effects of these incontinence agents. If you experience any unusual effects, you should discuss possible drug interaction with your healthcare professional.

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Surgery
If personal behavioral changes or medications are not effective, surgery may be another option to restore bladder control. The objective of surgery is often to restore the muscle area where the bladder empties. As with any surgery, there are risks and no guarantees for complete success. Recovery time can range from two to four weeks.  

One surgical option, Bladder Neck Suspension Procedure, involves placing small stitches between the ligaments and tendons that support the pelvic organs and then tying them to the pubic bone to stabilize the bladder and urethra. One of the more common techniques is referred to as the Burch procedure. Another option is the Pubovaginal Sling Procedure, which uses a piece of strong connective tissue to create a supporting "hammock" underneath the urethra and bladder neck.

In a study of over 650 women with stress incontinence who were treated with either Burch procedures or Pubovaginal Slings, after about 24 months the success rates for women treated with slings was about 47%, whereas the success for women receiving the Burch procedures was about 38%. Complications included urinary track infections, difficulty voiding and urge incontinence after the surgery. If surgery is required, you and your healthcare professional can determine the procedure that is best for you.¹⁶

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The evadri System
With proper use, the evadri System helps restore bladder control without the side effects associated with drug therapy or the recovery time associated with surgery. The evadri System is an office-based treatment unit that provides a safe, well-tolerated therapy for bladder control problems. The evadri System treats incontinence by teaching you to control the muscles that support and help control bladder function.

In a clinical trial, when used with a complete training program, the treatment approach offered with the evadri System has been more effective in reducing bladder accidents in patients with urge incontinence or overactive bladder (80.7 percent) than drug treatment with (oxybutynin chloride) (68.5 percent) alone.^4,5

Also, in a clinical study, the combination of complete training program, medications and the type of treatment provided by the evadri System has demonstrated added value for the treatment of urge incontinence.^5,7

Further, in a controlled study of more than 200 women with different types of bladder control conditions, the combination of a complete training program plus the type of care offered by the evadri System resulted in a 71 percent reduction in bladder accidents.^1,5

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