Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Turkey: Stop the Leaks and Reclaim Your Life

Do you leak urine when you cough or laugh? Learn about stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Discover 15-minute sling surgeries (TOT/TVT), laser treatments, and medication options in Istanbul with Dr. Cengiz Andan.

Urinary Incontinence is Not Your Destiny; It is a Treatable Condition

Medically known as Urinary Incontinence, this condition is far more common than most people realize. However, it remains the health issue women wait the longest to treat due to embarrassment.

Many women live their lives dependent on pads, avoiding social gatherings for fear of odor, and are afraid to laugh heartily, sneeze, or run around with their children. In medical literature, this is often referred to as “Social Cancer”because it isolates a person from social life.

Many women view incontinence as a “natural result of aging” or “the price of childbirth.” In reality, urinary incontinence is a mechanical or hormonal problem that can be treated at any age. Dr. Cengiz Andan helps patients return to dry, comfortable days through accurate diagnosis—sometimes with simple medication, and sometimes with a minor 15-minute operation.

1. The Type of Incontinence Determines the Treatment

Not all leaks are the same, and treatments vary completely based on the type.

• Stress Urinary Incontinence (Mechanical Problem): The most common type. Leakage occurs when abdominal pressure increases, such as during coughing, sneezing, laughing, heavy lifting, jumping, or climbing stairs.
  • Cause: Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles and the angle of the bladder neck due to difficult childbirths or aging.
• Urge Incontinence (Muscle Problem): Leakage occurs immediately after a sudden, intense urge to urinate, often before reaching the toilet. Also known as “Overactive Bladder.”
  • Cause: Involuntary contractions of the bladder muscles.
• Mixed Incontinence: A combination of both types occurring together.

1. Surgical Solution: TOT and TVT (Sling Surgeries)

For stress incontinence (leaking when coughing), medication is ineffective because the problem is mechanical (like a broken faucet washer). The definitive solution is to lift and support the sagging bladder neck (urethra).

The Gold Standard: Mini Sling Method (TOT – Transobturator Tape)

• Duration: The procedure takes approximately 15-20 minutes.
• Technique: It is performed through the vagina with no abdominal incisions. A special, biocompatible synthetic tape (mesh) is placed under the urinary tract like a hammock.
• Mechanism: This hammock provides support from below when the patient coughs or laughs, closing the urethra and preventing leakage.
• Recovery: Patients are discharged the same day. Post-operative pain is minimal.

1. Non-Surgical Solutions: Laser and Medication

• Medication: The first line of defense for Urge Incontinence (leaking before reaching the toilet). Medications that relax the bladder muscles reduce symptoms by 80-90% with regular use.
• Laser Treatment: For patients with mild stress incontinence or those who cannot undergo surgery, vaginal laser applications can stimulate tissue collagen to support the urinary tract. No anesthesia is required.

Frequently Asked Questions (Urinary Incontinence)

1. How long does the incontinence surgery take?Answer:The TOT surgery takes about 15-20 minutes in experienced hands. It can be performed comfortably under spinal anesthesia (numbing from the waist down) or light sedation, without the need for general anesthesia.
2. Will I be cured immediately after surgery?Answer:Yes, the effect is immediate. As soon as the catheter is removed after surgery, patients notice they do not leak even when coughing. Success rates are around 90-95%, and the effect is generally lifelong.
3. Does incontinence surgery affect my sex life?Answer:It affects it positively. Women who experience low libido due to fear of leaking or who actually leak during intercourse regain their confidence once the problem is solved. Additionally, since the surgery is performed vaginally, it does not cause narrowing or pain (if desired, it can be combined with vaginal tightening in the same session).
4. Can women who have never given birth have incontinence?Answer:Yes. Genetic connective tissue weakness, hormonal deficiency during menopause, obesity, chronic coughing (smoking, asthma), or heavy sports can cause incontinence even in women who have never given birth.
5. Is the mesh material harmful to the body?Answer:No. The material used (polypropylene) is fully biocompatible, non-allergenic, and has been safely used in medicine (for hernia repairs, etc.) for decades. Over time, the body wraps its own tissue around this tape, integrating it.

Dr. Cengiz Andan offers discrete and effective solutions for urinary incontinence in Istanbul, helping you regain control over your body and your life.