Mercer Times

Capital Health Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health has become the first medical practice in Mercer County, New Jersey, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to offer Bulkamid as a treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The facility has been recognized as a Bulkamid Center of Excellence due to its staff's proficiency with the procedure and their commitment to enhancing patient outcomes.

Dr. Donald DeBrakeleer, director of Urogynecology at Capital Health, highlighted the prevalence of SUI among women: "One in three women experience stress urinary incontinence (SUI) as they age, often during or after pregnancy," he stated. He explained that "weakness in the pelvic floor prevents the urethra from closing fully, which can allow urine to leak during everyday activities such as coughing, laughing, or lifting an object." Dr. DeBrakeleer described Bulkamid as "an exciting minimally invasive approach that has the potential to improve the long-term quality of life for patients who were not helped by previous surgical treatment options."

Bulkamid is a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and produced by Axonics, Inc., a company specializing in medical technology for bladder and bowel dysfunction treatments. At Capital Health Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health, practitioners inject a soft gel into the urethral wall to support its closing mechanism. This process involves three to four small injections completed within 15 minutes under local anesthesia or light sedation. Patients generally experience short recovery times with minimal risks compared to surgical alternatives. Clinical studies have shown that Bulkamid provides effective symptom relief lasting at least seven years.