Stress urinary incontinence in women.
OBJECTIVE
To review and synthesize existing knowledge about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, and management of stress urinary incontinence in women.


METHODS
Selected scientific literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Stress urinary incontinence is more than merely a symptom. Instead, it is a clinically relevant disease with adverse psychosocial and physical consequences. Evaluation begins with active screening and is followed by individualized assessment when urinary leakage is detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Traditional treatment modalities, including pelvic muscle rehabilitation, focus on behavioral strategies to reduce urine loss, and surgical correction of anatomic defects is completed in selected cases. Pharmacotherapeutic options have been limited, but one compound is undergoing clinical trials to determine whether it is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.
Gray
Mikel
M
Urology Department, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA. mg5k@virginia.edu
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D010570:Pessaries; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014563:Urodynamics; D016387:Women's Health
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D007099:Imipramine