Insertion of Tension Free Vaginal Tape
This webpage will give you information about inserting a
tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). If you have any questions, you
should ask your GP or other relevant health professional.
What is stress incontinence?
Stress incontinence is when urine leaks from your bladder. It
usually happens when you do things that place pressure (stress) on
your bladder, such as exercise, laughing, coughing and
sneezing.
Having weak pelvic-floor muscles is a common cause of stress
incontinence. The weakness is usually caused by the muscles being
stretched or damaged during childbirth.
Sometimes stress incontinence can be caused or made worse by a
weakness in the urinary sphincter. The problem is often made worse
if you are overweight or smoke, and tends to get worse with
age.
What are the benefits of TVT?
If the operation is successful, urine will no longer leak from
your bladder.
Are there any alternatives to TVT?
Simple treatments include pelvic-floor exercises, electrical
stimulation, incontinence devices and bladder-neck bulking.
There are other surgical procedures such as Burch
colposuspension, needle suspension and having a sling inserted.
These are bigger operations than a TVT but are usually no more
effective.
What does the operation involve?
Inserting a TVT is usually performed under a local anaesthetic
while you are sedated. The operation usually takes about half an
hour.
Your gynaecologist will make two small cuts in the lower part of
your abdomen and another small cut in your vagina just below your
urethra (tube that carries urine from your bladder). They will pass
a needle with tape from one side of your urethra and up through one
of the cuts made on your abdomen. Your gynaecologist will then pass
the needle, with tape, from the other side of your urethra and up
through the other cut on your abdomen (see figure 1).
Figure 1 - A TVT in place supporting the urethra
What complications can happen?
General complications of any operation
- Pain
- Sickness or feeling sick
- Bleeding
- Developing a haematoma
- Infection in the surgical wound
- Unsightly scarring
- Blood clots
Specific complications of this operation
- Difficulty passing urine
- Urine infection
- Damage to the bladder
- Damage to surrounding structures
- Overactive bladder
How soon will I recover?
You should be allowed home after you have passed urine in the
normal way, usually later on the same day or the day after.
You should be able to return to work after about two to four
weeks, depending on your type of work.
Your doctor may tell you not to do any manual work at first and
you should avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities
as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a
member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
You should continue your pelvic-floor exercises to prevent the
incontinence coming back and reduce the risk of a prolapse.
Summary
Inserting a tension-free vaginal tape should prevent you from
passing urine in an uncontrolled way.
Acknowledgements
Author: Mr Jeremy Hawe MBChB MRCOG and Dr Alison Peattie MBChB
FRCOG
Illustrations: Hannah Ravenscroft RM
This document is intended for information purposes only and
should not replace advice that your relevant health professional
would give you.
Copyright © 2008 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on this website is
produced by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay Health
Care UK.
The intellectual property rights to the information belong
exclusively to EIDO Healthcare Limited.
You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any
of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial
use.
The information should not replace advice that your relevant
health professional would give you.
Hospitals offering this treatment