It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 3 women will experience stress incontinence at some point in their lives. This translates to millions of individuals globally as the prevalence increases with age, with roughly half of women over 65 years old experiencing it.
What Is Stress Incontinence?
Weak pelvic floor muscles, sometimes caused by a damaged bladder or urethra valve, may struggle to withstand the additional pressure caused from activities like coughing, sneezing, jumping or even laughing. This pressure briefly forces the valve to open, letting a small amount of urine escape. While the amount of escaping urine is usually minor, it can happen repeatedly throughout each day, negatively impacting daily life and confidence as a result.
Stress incontinence is significantly more common in women than men which is primarily due to anatomical differences and the impact of certain life events such as childbirth. Childbirth, or vaginal delivery, especially with complications such as forceps use, can weaken the pelvic floor muscles, increasing the risk of stress incontinence. Additional factors associated with higher risk include menopause, obesity, chronic coughing, certain neurological conditions, pelvic surgery and prostate issues in men.
The good news is that stress incontinence is a treatable condition. Various non-surgical and surgical options are available which can can significantly improve your quality of life depending on the severity of your individual needs.
Vaginal Changes & Loss Of Sensation
Vulvar and vaginal changes can naturally occur throughout a woman’s life due to age, lifestyle, hormonal fluctuations throughout pregnancy and menopause, childbirth, weight changes and as symptoms associated with certain medical conditions.
Throughout life, sexual function and sensation may also change, but it’s important to remember that some of these changes are not solely dependent on the physical appearance or tightness of the vagina. Sexual arousal and pleasure also involve a complex interplay of physical, emotional and psychological factors, and so a person’s ability to experience sexual pleasure can be affected by other factors including stress, anxiety, health conditions and medications.
Physically, the vulva’s outer appearance, and the vagina’s internal tissue, may change in terms of elasticity, tone, and lubrication which is most noticeable with age. As every body is different and unique, what is considered to be “normal” can vary greatly among individuals and so focusing solely on physical appearance as a measure of sexual function is somewhat unrealistic. True sexual fulfilment comes from a combination of physical, emotional and psychological factors for which physical symptoms can be improved to assist in finding balance.
Respecting our individual bodies and prioritising healthy communication and understanding of sexual and physical health are crucial for creating positive and fulfilling sexual experiences for men and women alike.
What Is Vaginal HIFU?
HIFU, High Intensity Frequency Ultrasound, was developed for treating various cancers with thermal energy from ultrasound waves. First introduced in 2009, HIFU has since become a very popular non-invasive cosmetic treatment to pause, if not turn back, the clock and signs of ageing both internally and externally; proving highly effective at tightening vaginal tissue, increasing sensation and reducing, and even removing, symptoms of stress incontinence.
HIFU is celebrated in the world of medical aesthetics for it’s skin tightening, face lifting, wrinkle reduction and body contouring results. Our skin remains tight and pert when there is a high concentration of collagen and elastin in the dermis layer, but with age and lifestyle choices, the body naturally lowers its production of collagen and so the upper layers of skin begin to wrinkle, loosen and sag.
During a vaginal HIFU procedure, the vagina is treated at different depths with an internal laser. The heat from the laser passes through the mucosa of the vaginal wall and creates a controlled wound-healing response within the body to increase blood flow to the tissue of the vagina. As a result of this, the vagina becomes firmer and tighter as it naturally produces new collagen and elastin as sensation is increased and the symptoms of stress incontinence are reduced, if not resolved entirely.
Vaginal HIFU Benefits
The vaginal HIFU procedure takes just a matter of minutes to perform and is similar to having a smear test. The long-lasting benefits include:
-Counteracts Incontinence / Stress Incontinence: This treatment helps to prevent involuntary leakage of urine during activities where the pressure on the bladder is higher, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising. Successfully relieving these symptoms, in some cases, it can completely eliminate the problem entirely.
-Vaginal Tightening: This treatment tightens the vagina after childbirth or due to ageing which causes the vaginal tissue to loosen and stretch. Vaginal HIFU rebuilds and strengthens collagen in the vaginal wall, making the vagina tighter.
-Increased Sensitivity: Increasing the sensitivity of the vaginal tissue, this in turn improves sexual satisfaction.
-Increased Hydration: This treatment provides hydration to the vagina and relieves symptoms of vaginal dryness and recurrent vaginal infections. Hormonal changes which occur in the body after menopause can cause the mucous membrane of the vagina to naturally become thinner and drier which can lead to inflammation for which this treatment repairs the vaginal wall, improves the vaginal immune system, hydration and sensitivity. Unpleasant symptoms such as itching and burning also decrease.
Vaginal HIFU is a non-invasive treatment, meaning no incisions or cuts are required and it can be performed conveniently within a lunch break. Over time, the results of this treatment may continue to improve as the vaginal tissue continues to adapt and naturally rebuild collagen and elastin.
The results of this treatment can last for months to years depending on the individual and the treatment can be performed twice a year to maintain optimum results.
Vaginal HIFU Aftercare
After treatment you can immediately resume your daily activities because vaginal HIFU is a non-invasive treatment s you do not need to recover or stay at home. It is advised that you avoid sexual contact for at least 48hr after treatment as well as physical activity such as sports and swimming
To avoid infections, do not taking baths, use tampons or vaginal products for at least 48hr. Most people do not experience side effects but there may be mild pain or swelling which can be treated with a painkiller or ice.
Visit Thrive Skincare for more information about vaginal HIFU.
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