Medical devices won't cure urinary leakage, but they can help manage the problem by reducing leakage or controlling the urge to urinate, according to MayoClinic.com. Internal and external devices physically block urine from flowing out of the bladder or leaking outside the body. Nerve stimulation devices strengthen the muscles that control urination to reduce leaking.
Internal Devices
These devices, which require a prescription, can be uncomfortable for some, according to MayoClinic.com. Urethral inserts are small, disposable plugs that a woman fits into her urethra, which is the tube that carries urine outside the body for elimination, to prevent leaking. They are usually used during activities that might cause stress incontinence and then removed when no longer needed or when the user wants to urinate. Women with a prolapsed or dropped bladder can use a pessary, which is a donut or dish-shaped device that is inserted into the vagina to help prop up the bladder and prevent incontinence. It does not need to be removed for urination, but it must be taken out and cleaned regularly.
External Devices
These devices are meant to block or soak up urine flow to prevent leaking, according to MayoClinic.com. Small disposable foam pads can be fitted between the labia to soak up leaking urine. They must be removed in order to urinate and replaced with a new pad. Silicone caps are hollow devices that fit over the urethral opening with the help of suction to hold them in place. They can be reused for up to a week as long as they're washed regularly.
Nerve Stimulation Devices
These devices use a gentle electric current to nerves and muscles in the pelvic floor to improve urinary control, according to MayoClinic.com. Often used in combination with strengthening exercises, a pelvic floor stimulation device causes the muscles to contract, without the patient trying to contract them, in order to strengthen the muscles. It can take several months for this process to reduce leaking. The treatment can be done in a doctor's office or at home with a portable device.
Catheters
Catheters are usually a last resort for those who have had no help from other treatments, according to MayoClinic.com. A catheter can be a small tube that is inserted into the urethra to empty the bladder manually. External catheters, called penile sheaths, are rolled over the penis like a condom and held in place with adhesives to catch urine, according to UrologyHealth.org. Either way, catheters connect to a plastic bag that holds the urine and is strapped to the leg or belly. Catheters can be worn permanently or used and removed periodically to empty the bladder completely and prevent it from overflowing and leaking.
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