Mid-urethral Sling

The tube connected to the bladder that allows you to urinate is called the urethra. When the support tissue below the urethra weakens, pressure from activities like coughing, sneezing and exercising cause the urethra to move up and down, opening it and allowing urine to leak out. This is known as stress incontinence.

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A mid-urethral sling is a mesh device surgically placed underneath the urethra to act as a supportive “hammock” so when you cough, sneeze or laugh, the urethra stays straight, in place and closed to prevent leakage. It’s a minimally invasive procedure with a high success rate, and is therefore widely considered to be one of the best options when treating stress incontinence surgically.

A mid-urethral sling is the most common surgical option for treating stress incontinence in women. The mesh does not break down in the body, which means the device holds steady over time.

The procedure is minimally invasive, can be performed in about 15 to 30 minutes, and is done through a small incision in the vagina. 

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Women who have a history of pelvic radiation or who may potentially need pelvic radiation in the future are not good candidates for a mid-urethral sling. If you’ve had issues with a mesh procedure before, your physicians would take this into account when considering whether to use this type of sling.

During the surgery, a small incision is made on the vaginal skin directly under the urethra. The sling is placed between the urethra and vagina, then the sling is brought up behind the pubic bone and secured. You won’t be able to feel or see the mesh sling once it’s in place. The incision inside the vagina is closed with stitches that dissolve over time. 

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After the procedure, most patients are able to go home the same day. You might experience soreness, but you should be able to return to work and do normal activities within two to three weeks. Within a month of surgery, your stress incontinence symptoms should be resolved.