Bulkamid

What Does Bulkamid® Treat?

Bulkamid is a non-invasive treatment that specifically addresses stress urinary incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence occurs when the urethra is unable to fully close, causing urine to leak when pressure is applied to the bladder. Exercise, laughter or coughing can trigger leakage.

While this is a common condition among women of all ages, it generally increases in incidence with age. It can also result from childbirth, obesity, or a pelvic floor disorder.

With over 70,000 patients treated, three out of four women have reported that their condition significantly improved or went away following treatment with Bulkamid.

How Does Bulkamid Work?

Bulkamid is a urethral bulking agent that consists of 97.5% water and 2.5% polyacrylamide. During the minimally invasive procedure, the hydrogel is injected into the urethra’s soft tissue. This small implant treats stress urinary incontinence by strengthening the urethra’s ability to close.

What’s The Procedure Like?

One of the biggest perks of Bulkamid is that it’s a simple, minimally invasive procedure that takes between 10-15 minutes.

After receiving a local or general anaesthetic, we use a cystoscopy camera to inject the hydrogel into the soft tissue in the urethra. A pea-sized amount, around 2 milliliters, of the gel is inserted between 3-4 locations,

From here, you’ll be asked to empty your bladder prior to leaving and heading home. In some cases the urologist might also prescribe you with an antibiotic.

Any Side Effects?

Most patients will recover quickly following the procedure, however there are some short-term side effects. For instance, some patients report difficulty emptying their bladder, urgency and/or pain however these side effects usually resolve themselves within two days.

Though extremely rare, some patients may receive a catheter if they’re unable to pass urine. If a patient needs a catheter, they usually only need it for about a day or so.

When Will I Start Seeing Results?

Patients report seeing improvement as soon as they leave treatment, but it may take upwards of four weeks for benefits to fully appear. If after four weeks, a patient isn’t satisfied with the results, an additional injection might be needed to reach satisfactory results.

Let's Connect.

Urinary incontinence, whether stress-induced or otherwise, can have a significant impact on your quality of life. If you’re ready to take back control, contact us at Austin Urology Institute to schedule a consultation.