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Middle angled couple hiking with backpacks. Female looking back at her partner.
Middle angled couple hiking with backpacks. Female looking back at her partner.

Learn more about bladder leaks

Middle angled couple hiking with backpacks. Female looking back at her partner.
Middle angled couple hiking with backpacks. Female looking back at her partner.

If you can’t control your bladder, are urgent bladder leaks controlling you?

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Are restless nights due to frequent bathroom trips disrupting your life? Do you feel like you can’t enjoy time away from home? You can’t control it, and you can’t ignore it. It’s that “gotta go” feeling that causes a frequent and urgent need to empty your bladder, even when it’s not full.
Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI), also called urgent bladder leaking, is a chronic condition, which means it won’t go away by itself. It can also be a disabling condition with physical, psychological, and social consequences that may significantly impact your quality of life.1

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Types of bladder leaks

Urinary Incontinence affects a quarter to a third of Americans, and there are several kinds of leakage.2 The three most common are:

  • Stress urinary incontinence: Involuntary leaks due to physical activities such as coughing, laughing, or sneezing that increase pressure on your bladder.
  • Urge urinary incontinence: That “right now” feeling you can’t ignore followed by leaking.
  • Mixed incontinence: You experience more than one type of leaking, most often it’s a combination of urge and stress incontinence.

Revi™ is designed for men and women with urge incontinence. Take the quiz to find out if you’re a candidate for Revi.

There are three main types of therapy, but each may come with its own set of challenges.

Lifestyle/Behavioral Modifications

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Certain day-to-day changes may help address urgent bladder leaks, and can include:
  • Dietary changes, limiting fluid intake, and reducing bladder irritants such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine.
  • Routine changes such as bladder training and scheduled toileting.
  • Physical therapy like pelvic muscle strengthening through Kegel exercises.
What to know

If changes are effective, people may be able to control their leaks without medication or medical procedures. However, these changes require patience, time, and commitment. They may not be enough to help control symptoms for many people.

32%

Some studies show that less than a third of people are able to stick with these changes.3,4

Prescription options

Different types of medications may be used to help control bladder leaks, including:
  • Bladder relaxants that block receptors in the bladder to help ease tension in the muscles.
  • Topical vaginal estrogen to help strengthen muscles in the urethra and vaginal area.
What to know

Medication could be a simple daily routine for people if it works well for them. However, these medicines may have undesired side effects and are only effective in some patients.

>80%

of patients stop medication within 6 months due to dissatisfaction and side effects.5

Procedural intervention

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A variety of in-office procedures can help calm bladder urges and control leaks, such as:
  • OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections to relax the bladder muscles.
  • Neuromodulation, which stimulates nerves to send signals to the bladder and calm urges.
What to know

These procedures are less invasive than traditional open surgery and could provide long-term results for appropriate patients. However, procedures often require surgical intervention under anesthesia or ongoing appointments for in-office therapy.

<2%

of people with UUI have received these therapies, mainly due to a lack of education and concerns about complications.6

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Revi is a new option for those living with urgent bladder leaks.

Revi is a different kind of treatment. It’s implanted through a small incision in the ankle region in a single procedure and doesn’t require office visits for ongoing therapy delivery. It’s a long-term solution for a long-term condition.

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Is right for you?

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References:

1. Pizzol, D. et. al. Urinary incontinence and quality of life: a systematic review and meta analysis. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. 2021; 33:25-35 Urinary incontinence and quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2. Urology Care foundation Website Assessed August 2023: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/o/overactive-bladder-(oab)

3. Carmel A, Rose M, Fruzzetti AE. Barriers and Solutions to Implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy in a Public Behavioral Health System. Adm Policy Ment Health 2014 Sept; 41(5):608-614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0504-6

4. Enemchukwu, EA, Subak LL, Markland A. Barriers and Facilitators to Overactive Bladder Therapy Adherence. Neurourol Urodyn 2022 Nov; 41(8):1983-1992. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.24936

5. Reynolds, S et. al. The Burden of Overactive Bladder on US Public Health. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 2016 Mar; 11(1): 8-13 The Burden of Overactive Bladder on US Public Health – PMC (nih.gov)

6. Davenport A, Stark S, Quian A, Sheyn D, Mangel J. A Patient-Centered Approach to Refractory Overactive Bladder and Barriers to Third-Line Therapy. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Jul;134(1):141-148. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003320