New research suggests that women with female incontinence should consider non-surgical therapies before resorting to surgery for the condition.

Scientists at Florida's Cleveland Clinic analysed clinical trials involving women with adult incontinence in order to assess the effectiveness and safety of conservative and minimally invasive outpatient procedures for stress incontinence.

They looked at 32 clinical trials, all of which had followed participants for at least 12 months after treatment for their urinary incontinence.

Publishing their findings in the journal Advances in Urology, the study authors revealed that pelvic floor rehabilitation was associated with "significant improvements" if patients adhered to treatment.

The antidepressant duloxetine - which is sometimes given to patients with stress incontinence - was associated with high discontinuation rates, largely because patients suffered side-effects.

Finally, the researchers observed that the majority of patients who underwent an outpatient procedure called transurethral radiofrequency collagen denaturation or received urethral bulking agents experienced "significant" long-term improvements in their need for incontinence supplies.

The study authors concluded: "Conservative therapy is an appropriate initial approach for female stress urinary incontinence, but if therapy fails, radiofrequency collagen denaturation or bulking agents may be an attractive intermediate management step or alternative to surgery."