Incontinence Services

We offers comprehensive treatments for all aspects of urinary incontinence, delivered by a multidisciplinary team of continence advisors, urologists and gynaecologists.

Through a team-led approach, NUH can deliver a full spectrum of incontinence treatments for all types of incontinence.

The below list details the range of incontinence services delivered at Nottingham Hospitals.

Stress incontinence

This is the leakage of urine associated with physical exertion, coughing, laughing.

Treatments available at Nottingham University Hospitals include:

  • TVT tapes
  • TOT tapes
  • Urethral injections
  • Colposuspension
  • Pubovaginal autologous sling
  • Urinary diversion

Post-prostatectomy incontinence

Men who have had prostatic surgery (e.g. for prostate cancer) may suffer with urinary leakage due to poor sphincter function. This usually causes a constant leakage of urine, usually associated with physical activity, coughing, laughing etc.

Treatments available at Nottingham University Hospitals include:

  • Pelvic floor exercises
  • AdVance Male sling operation (for mild to moderate incontinence)
  • Artificial Urinary Sphincter operation (AUS)

Urethral diverticulum

This is a common condition where a lump develops in the vagina next to the urethra (water passage). It can cause discomfort, urinary leakage (especially after passing urine), discharge, or a variety of other symptoms.

An operation is usually needed to remove these lumps and this is usually only carried out at specialist units such as Nottingham University Hospitals.

OAB/urge incontinence

This is leakage of urine associated with severe urgency (rushing to the toilet).

Treatments available at Nottingham University Hospital include:

  • Medication (including clinical research trials of the newest drugs)
  • Botox bladder injections
  • Sacral neuromodulation
  • Clam ileocystoplasty (bladder augmentation)
  • Urinary diversion

Neuropathic bladder

People with neurological conditions often have bladder and bowel problems.

Common conditions include:

  • MS
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Spina bifida
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Cauda Equina syndrome

These problems can be complex and are best dealt with in specialist clinics.

At Nottingham University Hospitals, teams of clinicians work together to deliver excellent quality long-term care for patients with neuropathic bladder and bowel conditions, usually in multidisciplinary clinics.

Vesicovaginal fistula

This is a connection which develops between the vagina and the bladder causing constant leakage. It may happen due to surgery (e.g. hysterectomy) or radiotherapy for cancer. Repair can be performed with either a vaginal operation, or with an operation through the abdomen.