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The
Urinary Incontinence Treatment Network (UITN) is a group of urologists
and urogynecologists from all over the country who are conducting
research on the treatment of urinary incontinence, or accidental
loss of urine.
This research is being funded by the National
Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
and the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

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Currently the UITN is conducting three studies. The TOMUS study
will be enrolling women until Spring of 2007. The SISTEr and BE-DRI
studies are closed for enrollment.
TOMUS (Trial
Of Mid-Urethral
Slings)
The TOMUS study will compare the outcomes of minimally invasive
surgical procedures to treat stress urinary incontinence in women.
Stress urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage of
urine during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, or
lifting heavy objects.
These surgical procedures are called mid-urethral slings. The procedures
insert a mesh sling or "hammock" to support the bladder
neck so that urine does not leak. Both procedures have been approved
by the FDA and have been shown to be safe and successful in treating
stress urinary incontinence. However, we do not know if one is better
than the other. This study will answer that question.
SISTEr (Stress
Incontinence Surgical
Treatment Efficacy
Trial)
This study is comparing the long-term outcomes of two commonly
performed surgeries for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The two surgeries are the Burch procedure and the sling procedure.
Both of these surgeries have been performed for decades and have
estimated cure rates of 60% to 90%. However, the long-term outcomes
have not been studied. It is unclear whether one of these surgeries
is better than the other and should be offered to all women. The
UITN plans to answer this important question.
BE-DRI (Behavior
Enhances Drug
Reduction of Incontinence)
This study will determine if the addition of behavioral treatment
to drug therapy for the treatment of urge incontinence will make it
possible to discontinue the drug and still maintain a reduced number
of accidents. Urge urinary incontinence is defined
as a sudden and strong feeling of the need to pass urine that results
in urine leakage. It is sometimes also called overactive bladder.
There are two common treatments for urge incontinence---drug therapy
and behavioral therapy. Both have been successful in reducing the
number of accidents. Drug therapy is the most common approach
for treating urge incontinence. Patients take the drug every
day. Behavioral therapy is another treatment option. In
behavioral therapy, patients are taught to increase the strength
and control of the pelvic floor muscles and then to use these muscles
to help the muscles in the bladder wall to relax when they feel
a strong urge to pass urine. Behavioral therapy can also include
other helpful things that a woman can do to decrease the chances
of having an accident.
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