Stress urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine on effort or physical exertion. It is a highly prevalent condition affecting both men and women. Treatment is performed in a step-wise approach involving conservative measures, such as weight loss and pelvic floor exercises, medical treatment with duloxetine and a variety of surgical treatment options. However, recent restrictions in the use of synthetic mesh and tape have limited the surgical treatment options, leading to the need for new and novel treatment for stress urinary incontinence. Stem cell therapy is a developing medical field and offers the potential to restore normal physiological function of the urethral sphincter. The effectiveness of stem cell therapy in stress urinary incontinence has been demonstrated in pre-clinical studies, leading to its evaluation in several clinical studies. This review assesses the current evidence for the safety and efficacy of stem cell treatment for patients with stress urinary incontinence who have failed conservative and/or medical management and have not undergone previous surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence.
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