Urethral bulking agents are diagnosed and treated by the Urology Division as well as the Women’s Center for Continence and Sexual Health at Premier Medical Group. Bulking agents are materials that are injected in the tissue surrounding the urethra. This may be done to close a hole in the urethra through which urine leaks out or to build up the thickness of the wall of the urethra so it seals tightly when urine is held.
For women, urethral bulking procedures are usually done under local anesthesia, in a physician’s office. The local anesthetic allows a patient to stand up after an injection to find out if continence has been achieved. If continence has not been restored, another injection may be done immediately.