Pregnancy and delivery after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure: literature review and case report

Abstract

The popularity of the TVT procedure for treating stress urinary incontinence has led to more women of childbearing age undergoing this surgery. Therefore the incidence of pregnancy after TVT procedure is likely to increase. We present a review of the current literature and we report the case of a 26-year-old woman previously treated with TVT-O. In the literature there is no evidence that an elective caesarean section protects against stress urinary incontinence in cases of pregnancy after TVT procedure. In our case an elective caesarean section was performed at 39 weeks' gestation. Postnatal pelvic floor exercises successfully controlled the incontinence with a recurrence of the stress urinary incontinence 4 months after delivery on terminating physiotherapy. At 17 months after delivery the woman remained well with no incontinence or further treatment. In our opinion, vaginal delivery after TVT is not contraindicated. However, the mode of delivery must be considered individually and after fully advising the pregnant woman.