We have news! Uresta was referenced in the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada’s (SOGC) latest published clinical care guidelines as one of the solutions for the conservative management of stress incontinence (i.e. without surgical intervention).
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) publishes clinical care guidelines every four years on various women’s health conditions. Obgyns and family doctors rely heavily on these guidelines as a gold standard of care. This recommendation goes a long way in validating Uresta's effectiveness and non-invasive nature in managing stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
Let's take a closer look at the SOGC No. 397 – Conservative Care of Urinary Incontinence in Women clinical guideline and break down their 5 key recommendations for managing stress incontinence conservatively.
Key Recommendations for Managing Stress Incontinence Conservatively — SOGC Clinical Guideline:
1. Lifestyle Management for stress incontinence
The SOGC article emphasized the importance of lifestyle modifications in managing urinary incontinence. For example, factors such as obesity and smoking can increase the risk of urinary incontinence. In contrast, weight loss, dietary changes, and smoking cessation are lifestyle modifications that can positively impact symptoms.
In addition, the article notes that dietary changes, such as reducing fluid intake or avoiding bladder irritants such as coffee, tea and carbonated drinks (even without caffeine), can also help manage urinary incontinence symptoms. Patients may be advised to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and acidic or spicy foods. The article also highlights the importance of regular bowel movements, as constipation can contribute to urinary incontinence symptoms.
2. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
Pelvic floor muscle exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, are an essential component of conservative care for urinary incontinence. The article provides detailed instructions on how to perform pelvic floor muscle exercises and suggests incorporating them into daily routines to maximize their effectiveness.
The article notes that patients should be properly instructed on how to perform pelvic floor muscle exercises to ensure that they are engaging the correct muscles. Patients may be advised to contract their pelvic floor muscles for a certain amount of time and then relax them for a certain amount of time. The article suggests gradually increasing the duration and intensity of the exercises as tolerated.
3. Behavioral Management for managing incontinence
Behavioural management techniques can help patients identify and address triggers that may worsen urinary incontinence symptoms. The article suggests that patients keep a bladder diary to track their fluid intake, urinary frequency, and incontinence episodes. This information can help patients identify patterns and make changes to their behaviour.
Patients may also be advised to use timed voiding techniques, where they empty their bladder at regular intervals rather than waiting until they feel the urge to urinate. The article notes that patients may need to gradually increase the time between voids as they gain bladder control.
4. Intravaginal Mechanical Devices (i.e. pessaries), including the Uresta Pessary
Intravaginal mechanical devices (also known as a pessary) can provide relief from incontinence by providing support to the bladder neck and to the urethra by inserting vaginally.
This is where we come in! The SOGC article specifically introduces Uresta, as a clinically proven incontinence pessary. Uresta is designed to support the urethra and reduce stress urinary incontinence. The Uresta Bladder Support is made of medical-grade silicone and is inserted into the vagina, similar to a tampon. It can be worn during normal activities, such as exercise, and can be easily removed for cleaning and reuse.
The guideline recognizes that these devices can provide effective, and immediate relief of incontinence and that women’s confidence improved with the use of intravaginal medicanical devices, like the Uresta Bladder Support.
The SOGC's guidelines emphasize the importance of conservative management solutions for stress urinary incontinence , and Uresta has been recognized as a leading solution in managing SUI non-invasively. By incorporating these recommendations into daily routines, there is hope that women can manage their urinary incontinence symptoms and improve their quality of life without the need for surgery.
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Dr. Sinéad Dufour is an Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University with expertise in physical therapy and rehabilitation science. Her research focuses on conservative management of pelvic floor dysfunction, interprofessional collaboration for pelvic health, and pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. Dr. Dufour is an active member of the SOGC and has led the development of several clinical practice guidelines. She is also a clinical advisor to women's health businesses and a frequent international conference speaker, driven by her passion for optimizing perinatal care and promoting women's pelvic health.
Dr. Maria Wu is an academic urogynecologist and assistant professor at Western University, with a clinical practice in urogynecology and general gynecology. Her research interests include patient-reported outcomes in urogynecology, pelvic floor surgery outcomes in women with gynecological cancers, and health administrative data research. Dr. Wu is also involved in several national and international committees, including the Canadian Society of Pelvic Medicine Scientific Committee and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Canada Urogynecology Committee. She aspires to be a leader in female pelvic medicine research, including generating Canadian clinical practice guidelines in urogynecology.
