CHANDIGARH, OCTOBER 12, 2005
PRIYA YADAV
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
For 19 long years, Dr Sukhdeep Grewal, a geriatric
psychiatrist in California, struggled to cope with
problem of urinary bladder leakage. Repeated visits
to doctors in the US yielded responses but not the
treatment. The problem was redressed at a place she
least expected - her hometown, City Beautiful.
An increasing number of women are getting empowered
as latest techniques in medical field are set to redress
their long standing problem of bladder leakage.
"One in three women, above the age of 35 years,
especially those who have undergone multiple pregnancies
complain of urine leakage every time they sneeze,
cough, run or hurry.
Given the nature of our society the problem is often
not discussed and patients prefer to suffer in silence,
oblivious of the fact that latest technology has empowered
women," says Dr AS Bawa, director urology at
a leading hospital in Mohali.
"No one has the time or energy to do multiple
follow ups involved in getting referred from family
practitioner to the super specialist. Even information
about latest procedures is not so forthcoming as it
is here in India.
From the day I discussed my problem with the doctor
to the time when I was up and about on my feet after
the surgery took total of four days - which is simply
the height of efficiency and convenience," says
Dr Grewal who is flying back to California shortly.
Mother of two children, Dr Grewal started suffering
from the problem after the birth of her second child.
" Swimming, athletics and exercising became a
problem. When I came visiting my parents in Sector
27, I discussed the problem and realised that solution
was ready at hand.
It is a pity that most women continue to suffer in
silence and do not seek treatment when it is within
such easy reach," she says. Speaking to the Times
of Chandigarh about the latest procedure, introduced
even in the West only six months back, Dr AS Bawa
said, "It takes 30 minutes for the procedure
which is called Trans Vaginal Tape (Obturator) and
is an outpatient procedure which can be performed
under local anaesthesia.
It is convenient since the patient can go home the
same day. Elaborating upon the problem Dr Bawa says,
"The urinary bladder and the passage - urethra
are supported by muscles. These tend to become weak
post multiple pregnancies which leads to sagging down
of urethra and bladder.
If the muscles are strong the leakage will not occur.
Trans Vaginal Tape involves fixing up muscles with
a synthetic tape. The tape which is fixed through
the pelvis supports the muscles - the urethra and
bladder preventing leakage."
"Women suffering from urine leakage tend to
avoid socialising or even going to market. This leads
to unnecessary loss of confidence. Women can be empowered
and their self confidence restored," she adds
