Female AUS (Artificial Urinary Sphincter)

Posted by bpetes1016 @bpetes1016, May 21 1:21am

Hello!

I’m curious if there are others with an AUS device as I’d love to connect and share experiences.

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vickij1956 | @vickij1956 | May 21 7:29am

Hi, I do not have one, but would be interested in hearing from others that do. I was told by my urologist that they were rarely done for females in the US and that the rate of complications is high. Do you have one? What is your experience? Thanks, Vicki

bpetes1016 | @bpetes1016 | May 21 12:19pm

Hi Vicki,

Yes, I do have one 🙂 Mine was first placed when I was six and I have since had it replaced twice (appx every 12 years). From what I have been told, there was only a couple doctors in the US that could do the surgery back then. My last one was replaced in 2016, so I am at the 10yr mark now and just had a major surgery -- open total hysterectomy to remove a large mass. My urologist and gyn/oc completed the surgery together to ensure the sphincter was protected. They contemplated replacing it but being it is still working well, they didn't want to make the surgery/post-op more complicated than it already was. They had to deactivate my sphincter for healing purposes and where mine is placed, we are having difficulty reactivating (three doctors have tried). I know I'm a bit of a rarity as I don't usually have complications and also do not usually need to self-cath but was hoping to find someone that has similar history. And you are correct, it is so rare that I can't ever find a video or guide related to female anatomy... LOL. - Bethany