The Tension-Free Vaginal Tape (TVT) sling procedure is the gold standard surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) — the involuntary leakage of urine during physical activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. It involves placing a small polypropylene mesh tape beneath the mid-urethra to provide support and prevent leakage. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes under general or spinal anaesthesia and has cure rates of over 85–90% at 10 years in published studies. At Charak Hospital, our urogynaecology team performs TVT and TVT-O (transobturator variant) procedures with careful patient selection to maximise outcomes.
Is TVT Sling Right for You?
- Leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, jump, or exercise
- Stress urinary incontinence confirmed by clinical examination and urodynamics
- Failed or insufficient response to pelvic floor physiotherapy (3–6 months)
- Significant bother — wearing pads, avoiding social activities, affecting quality of life
- Family is complete
- No predominantly urge incontinence component (TVT is less effective for urge/mixed incontinence)
TVT vs TVT-O — Which Is Right for You?
TVT (Retropubic)
Tape passed behind the pubic bone. Higher evidence base, longest follow-up data. Cure rate ~85–90%.
TVT-O (Transobturator)
Tape passed through the inner thigh (obturator foramen) — avoids the retropubic space. Lower bladder injury risk, slightly less effective for severe incontinence. Cure rate ~80–85%.
The TVT Procedure — What Happens?
- Urodynamic study performed before surgery to confirm SUI and exclude urge component
- Spinal or general anaesthesia administered
- Small vaginal incision made under the urethra
- Two tiny skin incisions at the pubic bone (TVT) or inner thigh (TVT-O)
- Polypropylene mesh tape positioned loosely under the mid-urethra — tension-free
- Cystoscopy performed to confirm bladder is intact
- Procedure time: 25–40 minutes
- Catheter removed next morning; discharge in 24–48 hours
Recovery & Aftercare
Most women are discharged within 24–48 hours. A trial of voiding (to confirm normal bladder emptying) is performed before discharge. Mild soreness in the vaginal area and inner thighs for 1–2 weeks. Return to desk work in 1 week, light activities in 2 weeks, and heavy lifting or strenuous exercise after 6 weeks. The tape is permanent and does not require any maintenance.
Why Choose Charak Hospital?
- NABH-accredited facility
- Senior gynaecology team
- Laparoscopic & advanced surgical options
- 24×7 emergency care
- Full NICU & PICU backup
- Transparent treatment planning
- Compassionate multilingual staff
- Affordable, transparent pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
TVT (Tension-free Vaginal Tape) sling surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that permanently treats stress urinary incontinence—leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise. A small synthetic tape (mesh) is placed under the mid-portion of the urethra (the tube that carries urine out) to provide support, preventing leakage during physical pressure. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and is done through a small vaginal incision.
TVT sling is suitable for women who have confirmed stress urinary incontinence (leaking with physical activity, not urgency/overactive bladder), have not found sufficient relief with pelvic floor exercises after adequate time and effort, and have completed their family or are not planning pregnancy. A urogynaecological assessment, which includes a bladder function test (urodynamics), confirms your suitability before surgery is recommended.
TVT and TOT sling procedures have a reported success rate of 85–95% for significantly reducing or completely eliminating stress urinary incontinence. This makes it one of the most effective treatments for this condition. Improvement is usually noticeable immediately after surgery, though full results are assessed at the 3-month follow-up.
The surgery is performed under regional (spinal) or general anaesthesia, so you feel nothing during the procedure. Afterwards, you may experience mild discomfort or soreness for a few days, manageable with standard pain relief tablets. Most women describe post-operative discomfort as mild—much less than they anticipated. The small vaginal incision heals quickly and causes minimal discomfort.
Most women return home within 24 hours of TVT surgery and can resume light household activities within 1–2 weeks. Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and sexual intercourse for 4–6 weeks to allow the tape to settle into position. Office work or light activities can typically resume in 2 weeks. Complete healing and full activity resumption is usually achieved by 6–8 weeks.
Recurrence after a successful TVT procedure is uncommon but possible, especially with significant weight gain, new heavy lifting, or aging. Long-term success rates at 10 years remain around 70–80% for complete continence. Pelvic floor exercises should be continued even after surgery to maintain long-term results. If symptoms return, your urogynaecologist has additional options available.
No—the small vaginal incision used in TVT surgery heals internally and is not visible on the outside of the body. There are no abdominal scars. The incision is entirely within the vagina, so even close inspection of the skin would not reveal any sign of surgery.
Both TVT (Tension-free Vaginal Tape) and TOT (Trans-Obturator Tape) are mid-urethral sling procedures for stress incontinence with similar very high success rates. The main difference is the route the tape takes: TVT passes behind the pubic bone (retropubic route), while TOT passes through the inner thigh (transobturator route). TOT has a slightly lower risk of bladder injury; TVT has a slightly lower risk of groin discomfort. Your surgeon will recommend the best option for your anatomy.
The synthetic tape used in TVT/TOT procedures is specifically designed for this purpose and has a long safety record. Serious mesh complications (erosion, chronic pain) are uncommon—less than 3%—and are significantly less frequent than with pelvic prolapse mesh repairs. Your surgeon will explain all potential risks specific to your case before the procedure, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and make an informed decision.
TVT/TOT sling surgery in India typically costs between ₹40,000 and ₹1,20,000 depending on the hospital, city, type of anaesthesia, and admission duration. In Lucknow, costs are generally more affordable than in larger metro cities. At Charak Hospital, our urogynaecology team provides expert sling surgery with transparent pricing and comprehensive pre- and post-operative care.
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