Written and medically reviewed by Dr. Edward Gheiler, MD, FACS — July 27, 2026

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Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

Leaking urine when you cough, laugh, lift, or exercise is common — and it is treatable. Our practice spends every day restoring confidence and intimacy to men with erectile dysfunction. Dr. Gheiler believes women deserve exactly the same dedication: no woman should quietly live with leaks — not after childbirth, not after menopause, not at any age.

Desara® One single-incision sling · Outpatient

What stress urinary incontinence is

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is urine leakage caused by physical pressure on the bladder — a cough, a sneeze, a laugh, a jump at the gym. It happens when the support under the urethra weakens, most often after childbirth or with menopause. It is one of the most common conditions in women’s health, and one of the most quietly endured: many women simply organize their lives around pads and bathroom maps for years before anyone tells them it can be fixed.

Treatment is a ladder — surgery is not the first step

Pelvic floor physical therapy and Kegel exercises — the right first step for many women, especially with milder leakage.
Lifestyle measures — weight management, treating chronic cough or constipation, adjusting fluids and bladder habits.
Non-surgical devices — a pessary can support the urethra for women who prefer to avoid or delay surgery.
The midurethral sling — for women whose leakage persists despite conservative care and who want a durable, one-time solution.

The Desara® One single-incision sling

The Desara One is a single-incision midurethral sling: a small strip of supportive material placed under the urethra through one small vaginal incision, with no exit incisions in the groin or thigh. The procedure is typically performed as short outpatient surgery, and most women are back to normal daily activity quickly — with a temporary limit on heavy lifting and intercourse while the support heals.

Research experience, not just familiarity

Dr. Edward Gheiler, MD, FACS has treated female stress urinary incontinence throughout his career, and he has helped generate the published evidence behind single-incision slings for more than a decade. He served as a principal investigator in the Altis® single-incision sling clinical trials (2011 and 2015) and as a principal investigator in the comparative clinical study of the Desara® One sling (2023) — the same type of device he offers his patients. He is a co-author of peer-reviewed publications on these slings, including The Journal of Urology (2014), Neurourology & Urodynamics (2016; 36-month multicenter outcomes, 2023), and Urogynecology (2024) on patient satisfaction and quality of life after sling surgery.

The honest conversation about risks

Every surgery has risks, and sling surgery is no exception: temporary difficulty emptying the bladder, urinary tract infection, discomfort, mesh exposure in the vaginal wall, or the need for an adjustment or revision procedure. Some women are better served by staying on the non-surgical rungs of the ladder — and Dr. Gheiler will tell you so. What he will not do is let embarrassment keep a treatable condition untreated.

This page is patient education and does not replace a medical consultation. Individual results vary. Discuss your specific case with your urologist.

Frequently asked questions

What is stress urinary incontinence (SUI)?

Stress urinary incontinence is urine leakage that happens with physical pressure on the bladder — coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercise. It is one of the most common conditions in women’s health, often after childbirth or menopause, and it is treatable at every age.

Do I need surgery for urinary leaks?

Often not. Treatment follows a ladder: pelvic floor physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and non-surgical options come first. A sling procedure such as the Desara One is for women whose leakage persists despite those steps and who want a durable solution. Dr. Gheiler explains every option before recommending anything.

What is the Desara One sling?

The Desara One is a single-incision midurethral sling: a small strip of supportive material placed under the urethra through one small vaginal incision, with no exit incisions in the groin or thigh. It is typically an outpatient procedure, and most women return to normal daily activity quickly.

Is the sling the same mesh I have seen warnings about?

No. The 2019 FDA action concerned transvaginal mesh for pelvic organ prolapse — a different product used for a different condition. Midurethral slings for stress urinary incontinence were not part of that order and remain a recognized surgical option in professional urology guidelines. Like any surgery, a sling has real risks, and Dr. Gheiler reviews them honestly before any decision.

What experience does Dr. Gheiler have with slings?

Dr. Gheiler has treated female stress urinary incontinence throughout his career and has served as a principal investigator in the clinical trials of single-incision slings, including the study of the Desara One sling itself. He is a co-author of peer-reviewed publications on the safety, outcomes, durability, and patient satisfaction of these slings.

You don’t have to live with leaks

Request a confidential consultation with Dr. Gheiler. English · Spanish · Hebrew. También en español: urofeliz.com.

Private and confidential from your first call: these are problems our office treats every day, with discretion and respect.

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