Urethral bulking to treat urinary incontinence involves injecting material around the urethra. This may be done to:
- Close a hole in the urethra through which urine leaks out.
- Build up the thickness of the wall of the urethra so it seals tightly when you hold back urine.
If you leak urine when you laugh, sneeze or cough, you have what we call “stress incontinence.” It happens when extra pressure is placed on the abdomen which, in turn, puts pressure on the bladder. Coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, playing tennis, running and jumping are examples of activities that can cause stress incontinence.