Middle age couple smiling - The Continence Foundation of Ireland (CFI) is a multidisciplinary group of 10 independent gynaecologists and urologists in Ireland with an interest in all aspects of urinary and faecal incontinence

Helping
to improve
the quality of life
for people
who suffer from
incontinence.

Continence Foundation of Ireland

The Continence Foundation of Ireland (CFI) was founded in September 2005 by a group of 10 independent gynaecologists and urologists in Ireland with an interest in female incontinence and pelvic floor reconstructive surgery.

The Aims of the Foundation are:

  • Improve the quality of life for people who suffer from incontinence.
  • Raise public awareness, education and provide information about incontinence.
  • Provide a comprehensive integrated approach to the prevention, treatment and management of incontinence.
  • Ensure adequate resources are targeted at continence services and better value for money is achieved from resources allocated to incontinence.
  • Coordinate the efforts of different organisations and other individuals interested in and affected by incontinence.

We welcome membership from all medical disciplines and allied health professionals.

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Save the Date

Annual CFI meeting 2023 in Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin on Friday November 17th. Registration is now open - Register Here

Urogynecology 3.0 - Between Innovations And Old Dilemmas

European Advanced Diagnostic Course/ultrasound & Urodynamic For Pelvic Floor Disorders

Euga Annual Congress 2023

Varese 19-21 October 2023

https://eugaoffice.org/



Continence Foundation of Ireland Position Statement on Mid-urethral Slings

We have become aware that many patients are concerned following international media reports about complications related to the use of mesh products for continence and prolapse surgery. The Continence Foundation of Ireland (CFI) was established by health professionals in Ireland who specialise in the treatment of incontinence and prolapse. The aim of the CFI is to improve the quality of life for people who suffer from incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction, by raising awareness, and providing information and education.

There are several treatment options available for stress urinary incontinence. These will depend on the severity of symptoms, a woman's age and health, and whether she is planning to have children in the future. Treatment options include pelvic floor exercise and lifestyle changes. If such interventions are unsuccessful, surgery in the form of a Mid-urethral sling (MUS) may be recommended. Mid-urethral slings are minimally invasive procedures developed in Europe in the 1990s to treat female stress urinary incontinence.

These slings are narrow, polypropylene (a commonly used suture material) tapes that are surgically placed beneath the middle part of the urethra (water pipe) to provide dynamic support to stop leakage from the bladder. They have been shown to be as effective as more invasive traditional surgery with major advantages of shorter operating and admission times, and a quicker return to normal activities together with lower rates of complications. This has resulted in MUS becoming the operation of choice in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australasia for treatment of SUI with several million procedures performed worldwide.

Mid-urethral sling operations have been the most extensively researched surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women and have a good safety profile irrespective of the operative route (more than 2000 publications, including women with obesity, prolapse and other types of bladder dysfunction). They are highly effective in the short and medium term, and accruing evidence demonstrates their effectiveness in the long term. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact your doctor.

You may find the following links helpful.

www.bsug.org.uk/pages/information/guidelines/105 www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/gtg35/ www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG171 www.cochrane.org/CD006375/INCONT_mid-urethral-sling-operations-stress-urinary-incontinence-women www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/rcog-and-bsug-response-to-nhs-england-mesh-report/ www.iuga.org/?page=mus

Physiotherapy

Member of Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists

Chartered Physiotherapists in Pelvic Health and Continence work with all aspects of physiotherapy relating to women's and children's pelvic health.

At your first visit, your Chartered Physiotherapist will ask you questions about your presenting problem. They will then carry out a detailed physical assessment, before agreeing a treatment path for you. Treatment programmes are centered around rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles and fascial tissue ...

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Urodynamics

continence Foundation Ireland Urodynamics photo

After your health professional has taken a full history of your symptoms and carried out a physical examination they may refer you for Urodynamics testing. It is acknowledged by the International Continence Society that Urodynamics testing is the most reliable and objective way of diagnosing the type of urinary incontinence present and its underlying cause.

See the link below to obtain the International Urogynaecological Associations' patient information leaflet on Urodynamics testing.

Download Urodynamics Pdf

Links

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Committee Members

President - Dr. Gerry Agnew - MRCOG MRCPI

Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Urogynaecologist at the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St., St. Vincent's University Hospital and at the Pelvic Floor Centre at St. Michaels' Hospital, Dun Laoghaire.

Treasurer - Dr. Susmita Sarma

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a Special Interest in Urogynaecology Galway University Hospital.

Secretary - Mr. James Forde

Past President - Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan - MB, FRCPI, MRCOG

Consultant Obstetrician and Urogynaecologist in Cork University Maternity Hospital.

Dr. Barry O'Reilly - MD, FRCOG, FRANZCOG

Consultant Obstetrician and Urogynaecologist, Cork University Maternity Hospital.

Dr. Orfhlaith O'Sullivan - MRCSI, MCh, MRCPI, MRCOG

Subspecialty Fellow in Urogynaeclogy, Cork Univsersity Maternity Hospital.

Dr. Declan Keane - MD, FRCPI, FRCOG

Consultant Gynaecologist at National Maternity Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospitals, Dublin.

Mr Emmet Andrews - MD, FRCSI, FRCS(Eng), FRCSI(Gen)

Colorectal Surgeon.

Dr. Robin Ashe - MAO, FRCOG, DCh

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a Special Interest in Urogynaecology. Ulster Gynae Urology Society Representative on CFI.

Dr. Paul Byrne - MD, FRCPI, FRCOG

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist to the Rotunda, Beaumont and Bon Secours Hospital in Dublin. Senior Lecturer with RCSI.

Dr. Aoife O'Neill

Consultant Gynaecologist , Coombe Womens and Infants University Hospital, Dublin.

Lesley-Anne Ross

Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.

Maeve Whelan

Chartered Physiotherapist Pelvic Health & Continence, Milltown Physiotherapy Clinic, Dublin.

Mr. Tom Creagh

Consultant Urologist, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.

Mr. Hugh Flood

Consultant Urologist, University Hospital, Limerick.

Dr. Paul Hughes

Consultant Gynaecologist, Kerry General Hospital, Tralee.