Most women don’t talk about leaking urine and the urgency to pee that shows up out of nowhere. Trips to the bathroom never seem to end. You stop running errands the same way, you avoid long drives, you start scoping out public bathrooms before you need them.
When pads don’t work and medications make things worse, there’s another option. It’s called Axonics Therapy. You might have seen the ads, or maybe a doctor mentioned it once during an appointment. Either way, here’s what it really means, and how to know if it’s worth looking into.
What is Axonics Therapy and Is It Right for You?
A Small Device with a Specific Purpose
Axonics Therapy uses sacral neuromodulation. That’s a fancy way of saying a small device is placed under the skin near your lower back to send signals to the sacral nerves, which help control your bladder and bowels.
Those nerves aren’t broken, they’re just not firing the right way. This therapy nudges them back into rhythm. The device is rechargeable, lasts up to 15 years, and doesn’t get in the way of everyday movement once it’s in place.
The procedure is done in two steps. First off, there’s a trial run called the evaluation period. You wear a temporary version of the device for about two weeks to see if it helps. If you notice at least a 50% improvement in symptoms, the permanent one gets implanted.
What it Feels Like Inside You
Most women don’t feel anything sharp or painful. Some describe a light tapping or pulsing sensation near the tailbone or pelvis. Others don’t notice anything at all after the first few days. The goal isn’t to feel the stimulation, it’s for the brain and bladder to start syncing up again without the constant urgency or accidents.
You don’t get shocked by it, and it doesn’t go off randomly. The settings are adjusted to your body’s needs, and they can be fine-tuned later if something shifts. You recharge it at home using a small belt or pad that goes over the implant area. No hospital visits or overnight stays once the permanent version is in.
Who it’s Designed For
Axonics Therapy is FDA-approved for urinary urgency incontinence, urinary retention, overactive bladder, and fecal incontinence. It’s not a first-line treatment, it’s used when more conservative options, like pelvic floor therapy or medication, don’t work or come with too many side effects.
If you’ve tried bladder training and nothing changed, or you’ve gone through several prescriptions and still feel like you’re always bracing for the next leak, this is where Axonics might help you.
The trial phase is a built-in checkpoint. If it doesn’t work for you, it stops there. No permanent implant, no wasted time.
Why Women Try It and What Holds Them Back
The bathroom becomes a boundary after a while. It keeps people from traveling, from sitting through a movie, from staying out past sunset without anxiety. Axonics doesn’t promise a cure, but it offers relief that isn’t dependent on taking pills or wearing protection.
Still, there’s hesitation. Surgery, even minor, isn’t easy to sign up for. Some women worry about living with an implanted device. Others aren’t sure it’s worth the effort if their symptoms aren’t “bad enough.”
But most of the time, it’s not how bad things are. It’s how long they’ve been that way, and what you’ve already given up on managing your situation.
What Recovery Looks Like
The trial phase involves a small wire placed near the sacral nerve. It’s taped in place externally and removed in a follow-up visit. You’ll keep track of how often you go to the bathroom, how strong the urges are, and whether leaks or accidents improve.
If you move forward with the full implant, it’s done under local anesthesia or light sedation. Most women will return home the same day. You’ll have a small incision near your lower back, and some soreness where the device sits. Over-the-counter pain medication usually handles it, and most activities resume within a few days.
You’ll check in again to adjust the settings if needed. The system comes with a remote that lets you turn stimulation on or off and view the battery status.
Is it the Right Move?
Axonics isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t work in every case, and it’s not instant. The evaluation phase helps filter that out. But for women who’ve been stuck managing symptoms instead of living, it shifts the focus.
It’s not about fixing everything but rather finding enough relief to stop planning your day around the nearest restroom.
If your symptoms aren’t improving, or the side effects of medication are starting to pile up, it might be worth talking to a specialist. Not for a quick fix, but for something more reliable, and something you don’t have to think about every time you leave the house.
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