[Urinary incontinence and prolapse. Medical treatment and functional treatment]

Urinary continence implies that the variations of the vesical pressure does not exceed the capacities of the cervico-urethral closure system. The aim of the various methods of treatment is to have a beneficial action on those two parameters: drug therapy will mainly reduce the intra-vesical pressure (parasympatholytics...) and also improve the urethral tone (alpha-adrenergics...), or have a mixed effect on both systems (tricyclic antidepressants, oestrogens...). The side effects are often numerous due to the impact on the vegetative or neuromuscular system. The re-education is complemented by: local and general kinesitherapy, sensorial retrocontrol, associated or not to electrotherapy. Motivation and active participation of the patient are essential. The indications covers all the various pathologies (perineal insufficiency, defects in the body pattern, prolapse, sphincteral insufficiency, transmission problems, vesical instability, urethral instability) and concerns patients of all age groups.