Urethral injection procedures are used for stress incontinence in specific situations. This 10-15 minute minimally invasive procedure injects a paste like substance on the inside of the urethral sphincter muscle to provide more closure and resistance to urine leakage with physical activity. Injection procedures are less invasive than the sling procedure, but do not work as well (65-75 % response) and are not as durable (symptoms typically return in less than a year). Repeat injection when the effect wears off is common. Some patients may require an overnight bladder catheter on the day of the procedure.

• A variety of agents can be injected. The doctor injects the agent into tissues around the bladder neck and urethra to make the tissues thicker and help tighten the urethral valve area.

• The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia with light sedation over 15-20 minutes.

• Some agents require a skin test to determine whether you could have an allergic reaction to the material.

• The doctors at Comprehensive Medical Center are part of a team that is researching the role of injecting your own muscle cells to see if they will grow and strengthen your urethral valve area and reduce urine leakage.