2022_09_New_Jersey_Monthly

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
SAINT PETER’S
UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL
Imran Saeed, colorectal surgeon
Q: What causes fecal
incontinence and what are
the symptoms?
A: A medical condition that often
causes public embarrassment,
fecal incontinence is defined by
the sudden urgency to have a bowel
movement, with lack of control
to prevent it—something that
can happen anytime, anywhere.
The most common cause of fecal
incontinence, also called bowel
incontinence, is an issue with the
anal sphincter muscle.
Q: Does social stigma of the
disease make people reluctant
to seek treatment?
A: Many individuals with fecal
incontinence find themselves
limiting everyday experiences
and avoiding social engagements,
including exercise, travel, and
other situations where the security
of knowing a restroom is within
reach may be an unknown. There
are a lot of people who suffer from
fecal incontinence, and because
it’s commonly considered to be a
part of aging, people think they
must live with it and don’t seek
out any treatment options. However,
90 percent of people who
suffer from fecal incontinence can
find relief without the need for
surgery. Relatively simple solutions
like dietary modifications,
physical therapy, bowel retraining
(biofeedback), and medications
may help some patients.
Imran Saeed, MD, FACS, FASCRS
respond to dietary changes and
conservative management treatments,
there is bowel control
therapy through the InterStim
procedure. Once implanted by a
colorectal surgeon in the sacral
spinal nerves within the pelvic
area that control bladder and
bowel function, the InterStim device
transmits gentle stimulation
to these nerves, restoring brain
and bowel communication and
ultimately reducing symptoms.
This technology, approved by the
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), is an adjustable, approved
treatment for fecal incontinence
that can produce long-lasting
results with up to an 80 percent
success rate. The discreet therapy
allows patients to resume their
daily activities without the fear of
embarrassment.
254 Easton Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-745-8600
saintpetershcs.com
REPRODUCTIVE
MEDICAL
ASSOCIATES
(RMA) OF
NEW JERSEY
Dr. Marcus Jurema, physician
partner, reproductive
endocrinologist
Q: How much have fertility
treatments improved over
time?
A: When invitro fertilization
(IVF) was introduced in this
country over 40 years ago, the efficiency
rate was very low, around
1 percent. Four decades later,
those success rates have significantly
increased. Now eight out of
ten individuals who visit RMA are
successful.
Q: What have been the key
changes behind those
improvements?
A: First was the ability to develop
embryos after fertilization in
five to seven days rather than two
or three days. Doing that allowed
us to select the best embryos. Second
is the use of pre-implantation
genetic testing, called PGT-A,
Q: How does the InterStim
procedure work and help
patients with this disease?
A: For patients who don’t
Marcus W. Jurema, MD, FACOG
100 SEPTEMBER 2022 NJMONTHLY.COM