Injectable agents: present and future.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is primarily managed by conservative strategies. When these methods fail, minimally invasive treatments, if effective, safe, and durable, can result in a considerable reduction in current medical costs for this common condition. Injection of currently available bulking agents is a safe, minimally invasive procedure and offers a degree of efficacy. The long-term durability of several of these agents is yet to be determined. The use of bulking agents for the treatment of anatomic SUI has been demonstrated to produce success rates similar to those observed when these materials are used in patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency, opening up new therapeutic options for women with SUI. We review the current basic science and clinical research into the development of newer agents for soft-tissue bulking.