Stress incontinence can make ordinary activities such as exercising, laughing, coughing, or lifting feel unpredictable. This type of bladder leakage occurs when pressure on the bladder exceeds the support provided by the pelvic floor and surrounding tissues. Although it is common after childbirth and around menopause, symptoms can develop at other stages of life as well.
At Pacific Clinic in Bellevue, Dr. Amit Grover and Dr. Adriana Rosales provide physician-led care for women experiencing stress urinary incontinence. Dr. Grover is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has extensive procedural experience, while Dr. Rosales has a background in full-scope family medicine with a focus on women’s health and post-menopausal wellness. Treatment is tailored to the type and severity of leakage, contributing factors, and the patient’s goals.
What Is Stress Incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence, or SUI, is involuntary urine leakage caused by increased pressure on the bladder. Leakage may happen during activities such as:
- Coughing or sneezing
- Laughing
- Running or jumping
- Lifting heavy objects
- Standing up from a seated position
Stress incontinence often develops when the muscles and tissues supporting the bladder and urethra become weakened. Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth can stretch these structures, while menopause can contribute to changes in tissue strength and elasticity as estrogen levels decline.
Other contributing factors can include aging, previous pelvic surgery, repetitive high-impact activity, and excess body weight.
Stress incontinence differs from urge incontinence, which is associated with a sudden, difficult-to-control need to urinate. Identifying the type and severity of leakage is an important part of choosing an appropriate treatment.
The Benefits of Treating Stress Incontinence
Treating stress incontinence can improve more than bladder control. Depending on the severity of symptoms and the treatment used, potential benefits may include:
- Less leakage during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise
- Greater confidence during daily and social activities
- Improved comfort during physical activity
- Non-surgical treatment options
- Minimal downtime with in-office procedures
- A treatment plan tailored to the underlying symptoms and tissue changes
For women whose symptoms are linked to menopause-related tissue changes, treatment may also improve vaginal comfort and tissue health.
Non-Surgical Stress Incontinence Treatment Options
Pacific Clinic offers minimally invasive approaches for women who want to address bladder leakage without traditional surgery. Depending on the symptoms involved, treatment may include MonaLisa Touch® or the O-Shot®.
MonaLisa Touch® for Bladder Support
MonaLisa Touch® uses fractional CO₂ laser energy to stimulate collagen production and support vaginal tissue health. It may be considered for women experiencing mild urinary leakage along with concerns such as vaginal dryness, irritation, discomfort during intimacy, or menopause-related tissue changes.
Because the treatment does not use estrogen or systemic hormone replacement, it may also appeal to women looking for a hormone-free approach.
The laser portion of treatment is brief and performed in the office. Pacific Clinic typically recommends a series of three sessions spaced about six weeks apart, although some patients may require additional treatments depending on their symptoms. Annual maintenance may also be recommended as natural aging continues. Individual treatment plans can vary.
The O-Shot® for Bladder Support
The O-Shot® uses naturally occurring growth factors prepared from a small sample of the patient’s own blood. After processing, the concentrated growth factors are injected into targeted vaginal tissues that support the urethra and bladder.
The goal is to stimulate tissue regeneration, collagen production, circulation, and support within the treated area. The O-Shot® may also offer benefits for certain sexual health concerns in addition to bladder leakage.
The procedure generally takes about 30 minutes. Some women may achieve their desired improvement after one treatment, while others may be advised to repeat treatment based on symptom severity and their response.
What Happens During Treatment?
Treatment begins with a private consultation to discuss when leakage occurs, how often it happens, previous pregnancies or pelvic procedures, menopause-related changes, and how symptoms affect daily activities. A female physician is available upon request.
For MonaLisa Touch®, preparation is minimal. Patients may be asked to arrive with the treatment area clean and dry and to avoid creams or lubricants beforehand. The device then delivers gentle pulses of fractional CO₂ energy to the vaginal tissues.
For the O-Shot®, a small sample of blood is drawn and processed before treatment. A topical anesthetic is applied before the growth-factor concentrate is injected with a fine needle. For patients who feel anxious about medical procedures, Pacific Clinic also offers Nitronox medical nitrous oxide for additional comfort.
Recovery After Stress Incontinence Treatment
Both treatments are designed to require minimal interruption to normal routines.
Following MonaLisa Touch®, temporary redness, swelling, spotting, or mild sensitivity may occur. Patients may also be asked to avoid intercourse for several days while the treated tissues recover.
After the O-Shot®, temporary swelling or sensitivity around the injection sites may occur. Most patients can return to normal daily activities right away.
Improvement does not necessarily happen on the same timeline for every patient. Some women notice changes relatively quickly, while tissue remodeling and regenerative effects may continue to develop over the following weeks or months.
Who May Benefit From Treatment?
Non-surgical treatment may be worth discussing for women who experience leakage during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or similar activities.
MonaLisa Touch® may be particularly relevant when mild leakage occurs alongside vaginal dryness, irritation, post-menopausal tissue changes, recurrent urinary discomfort, or laxity after childbirth.
Women with more significant or persistent urinary incontinence may require a different evaluation or treatment approach. A consultation helps determine whether the options available at Pacific Clinic fit the symptoms involved.
What Our Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
No. MonaLisa Touch® is generally considered for mild stress or urgency-related leakage, particularly when vaginal tissue changes are also present. More severe incontinence may require other treatment options.
Pacific Clinic generally recommends three MonaLisa Touch® treatments approximately six weeks apart, though some women may require additional sessions. Annual maintenance may be recommended. Some patients may need only one O-Shot® treatment, while others may benefit from a repeat treatment based on their response.
MonaLisa Touch® and the O-Shot® are generally considered elective treatments and may not be covered by insurance. Pacific Clinic reviews expected costs before treatment, and financing options including CareCredit are available for eligible patients.
Why Choose Pacific Clinic for Stress Incontinence Treatment?
Pacific Clinic provides physician-led care for women seeking minimally invasive options for bladder leakage and related vaginal health concerns. Dr. Adriana Rosales brings extensive family medicine experience along with a focus on women’s health and post-menopausal wellness. Dr. Amit Grover is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has performed thousands of in-office procedures during more than a decade of clinical practice.
The Bellevue practice offers both MonaLisa Touch® and the O-Shot®, allowing treatment recommendations to reflect the patient’s symptoms rather than relying on one approach for everyone. Pacific Clinic also prioritizes privacy and comfort, with topical or local anesthetics and Nitronox available when appropriate.
Regain Confidence in Your Bladder Control
Stress incontinence can affect exercise, social activities, intimacy, and everyday confidence, but treatment options are available. Pacific Clinic offers physician-led, non-surgical approaches for women in Bellevue and surrounding Seattle-area communities who want to explore treatment for bladder leakage.
Contact us at 425-449-5660 to schedule a consultation and discuss whether MonaLisa Touch®, the O-Shot®, or another approach may be appropriate for your symptoms.
