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Stress Urinary Incontinence Solution for Women

Josie Tenore, M.D.

Josie Tenore, M.D., is the medical director of FreshSkin Medical Spa & Wellness Center, in Highland Park. One of her specialties is in the area of intimate women’s health. Many women suffer from urinary incontinence, or the involuntary loss of urine. If it occurs with coughing, laughing or sneezing, it is referred to as stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

        “What I discovered in my practice is that women don’t necessarily talk about this issue unless they are asked, so they suffer in silence. While it is commonly believed that this is a condition of aging, there are multiple studies that indicate that the condition can even occur in high school females,” says Tenore.

        One in three women have some sort of leakage of urine at some point in their life. Teenage athletes have a rate of 28 percent and adult athletes are closer to 46 percent. By age 60, one in three women suffer from bladder leakage, and by age 65, this jumps to 50 percent. “These statistics alarmed me and I wanted to do something about it,” advises Tenore.

        Risk factors for this condition include obesity, pregnancy and childbirth, smoking, chronic coughing and high-impact sports. “All of these factors put tremendous pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor, weakening them,” notes Tenore. “This also occurs naturally as a result of the aging process, hence the increased incidence.”

        Solutions for this condition vary by the degree of incontinence. Mild symptoms can be successfully treated with performing pelvic floor strengthening (Kegel) exercises. “While these exercises are frequently prescribed, they are rarely done correctly without the aid of either a physical therapist trained in the field of pelvic rehab or a biofeedback device gently placed in the vagina,” says Tenore.

        Severe SUI usually requires surgical intervention, but moderate cases can be addressed with the non-invasive Viveve treatment, which uses radio frequency to heat up the tissues of the pelvic floor, resulting in repair and synthesis of collagen over time. “The process strengthens these muscles, which leads to symptom relief,” explains Tenore. “The treatment is performed discreetly in the office, only takes 45 minutes and does not require any prep or downtime. After extensive research, I felt this was the only device on the market that was backed by scientific support and provided a comfortable experience to the patient, and hence appropriate for me to offer in my practice.”

        She suggests, “Don’t suffer in silence. Based on statistics, you are not alone, so feel free to call for more information about your options.”

FreshSkin Medical Spa & Wellness Center is located at 595 Elm Pl., Ste. 208, in Highland Park. For more information, call 847-681-8821 or visit MyFreshSkin.com