Patient stories
For bladder and bowel control
You deserve more worry-free days.
Meet patients who have experienced long-lasting relief from bladder and bowel symptoms using the InterStim™ system.
Hear how the InterStim™ system works for people like you.
Bladder control issues are quite common. In fact around 43 million adults in the US meet the criteria for overactive bladder (OAB).1,2 However, many people are hesitant to ask for help with their symptoms. In fact, one study shows that women with bladder control symptoms wait an average of 6.5 years before being diagnosed.3 Fecal incontinence (FI) is also extremely common, with about 21 million adults suffering with FI in the United States.2,4,5
Bladder control patient stories
Sara's story
“I love to run.…After InterStim, I can stay at the gym however long I want.”
– Sara H., living with overactive bladder (OAB)
Shamay’s story
“We have been able to go hiking. We have been able to go do things as a family. We have been able to really have a normal life again.”
– Shamay B., living with non-obstructive urinary retention
Tammy's story
“It was getting to the point that I didn't think I could teach any longer. And now I can.”
– Tammy S., living with overactive bladder (OAB)
Tina’s Story
“I tried about every treatment under the sun. After I got the InterStim™ system, I was dry!”
– Tina, living with OAB
Bowel control patient stories
Janet's story
“During my trial, my accidents went from daily to almost none.”
– Janet, living with chronic fecal incontinence (FI)
Kirstie’s story
“My world that started huge – I literally traveled the world – had shrunk to the point of hardly being able to leave my house. And now that world has been given back to me.”
– Kirstie T., living with chronic FI
Are you a candidate for InterStim™ therapy?
Answer a few short questions and find out if sacral neuromodulation may be a fit.
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.
Defined as a 50% or greater reduction in your troublesome bladder or bowel symptoms.
Reflects OAB patients. The most common device-related adverse events in SNM subjects were undesirable change in stimulation 10.2% (6/59), implant site pain 8.5% (5/59), lead migration/dislodgment 3.4 percent (2/59), and implant site infection 3.4% (2/59). The MID (minimally important difference) is the smallest score change that is perceived beneficial to patients and is often used to determine whether changes in scores are considered clinically significant.
Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, et al. Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States. World J Urol. 2003;20(6):327–336.
US Census Bureau 2020. US adult and under-age-18 populations: 2020 census. https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/adult-and-under-the-age-of-18-populations-2020-census.html. Accessed June 20, 2022.
Muller N. Overactive bladder in middle age women: the frustration of baby boomers with OAB symptoms. Ann Urol. 2010;1(1).
Whitehead WE, Borrud L, Goode PS, et al. Fecal incontinence in US adults: epidemiology and risk factors. Gastroenterol. 2009;137(2):512–517.
Ditah I, Devaki P, Luma HN et al. Prevalence, trends, and risk factors for fecal incontinence in United States adults, 2005-2010. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;12:636–643.
Siegel S, Noblett K, Mangel J, et al. Results of a prospective, randomized, multicenter study evaluating sacral neuromodulation with InterStim therapy compared to standard medical therapy at 6-months in subjects with mild symptoms of overactive bladder. Neurourol Urodyn. 2015;34:224–230.
Siegel S, Noblett K, Mangel J, et al. Five-year follow-up results of a prospective, multicenter study of patients with overactive bladder treated with sacral neuromodulation. J Urol. 2018;199(1), 229–236.