About Medtronic InterStim Therapy for Urinary Control

If you've tried other treatments but are still suffering from bladder control problems, you might be relieved to hear about another option: InterStim Therapy.

What Is InterStim Therapy?

InterStim Therapy was created by Medtronic, the developer of the pacemaker. This FDA-approved treatment can eliminate or greatly reduce bladder control symptoms for people suffering from overactive bladder (urge incontinence, urgency-frequency) or urinary retention problems.¹

With Medtronic InterStim Therapy, a small neurostimulator is placed under the skin of the upper buttock during a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure. InterStim Therapy is reversible and can be discontinued at any time by turning off or removing the neurostimulator.

How Does InterStim Therapy Work?

InterStim Therapy works with the sacral nerves, located near the tailbone. The sacral nerves control the bladder and muscles related to urinary function. If the brain and sacral nerves don’t communicate correctly, the nerves will not tell the bladder to function properly, which can cause bladder control problems. InterStim Therapy targets this communication problem by stimulating the nerves with mild electrical pulses.

How Can I Find Out If InterStim Therapy Will Work for Me?

You can try InterStim Therapy during a trial assessment period to find out whether it will work for you before making a long-term commitment. With long-term InterStim Therapy, a small neurostimulator is placed under the skin of the upper buttock during a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure.