Electrical Stimulation Therapy to Recondition Your Bladder Muscles

What is electrical stimulation therapy for your bladder?

If you suffer from adult urinary incontinence, anal incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, you don't have to hide away from the world. Of course, you may worry about embarrassing symptoms happening in public, but there are steps you can take to resolve these types of conditions.

These conditions are usually the result of a pelvic floor disorder. A pelvic floor disorder may be the result of age, or it may be caused by damage to the pelvic floor sustained during pregnancy and delivery, or due to heavy lifting.

Reconditioning your bladder muscles through electrical stimulation therapy may help relieve some of your symptoms so you can get back to an active life.

One of the most common problems associated with a pelvic floor disorder is urinary incontinence. Electrical stimulation therapy is especially helpful for these types of conditions:

• Stress urinary incontinence – This occurs when the valve that normally keeps the urethra closed during normal activity becomes weak. Symptoms include leaking urine when sneezing, coughing, laughing or during physical activity.
• Urgency urinary incontinence – This occurs when there is a sudden urge to empty the bladder that cannot be controlled. Often called overactive bladder, symptoms of urgency urinary incontinence include multiple trips to the bathroom to empty the bladder, as well as not being able to make it the bathroom in time or even bed-wetting.

What to expect from electrical stimulation therapy

At Main Line Health, our team of doctors, physical therapists and nurse specialists work to provide patients suffering from pelvic floor disorders comprehensive symptom relief. In addition to physical therapy, bladder retraining and behavior modification, electrical stimulation therapy may help relieve your symptoms.

If you have electrical stimulation therapy you can expect the following:

• Therapy will be delivered via an electrode that is inserted into your vagina or anus
• The electrode will deliver a mild electric current to the affected nerves in your pelvic muscles
• The electrical current will stimulate your pelvic muscles to contract frequently during the session
• Each therapy session will last for about 15 minutes
• Therapy may be needed twice each day and may continue for three to six months