A tension-free elastic tape is used for the surgical treatment of female urinary incontinence. The tape has a textile structure that allows ingrowth of the tape into the connective tissue. On its longitudinal edges, the tape has edge threads (2, 4, 6, 8) that project from the textile structure of the tape and that especially facilitate a good primary anchoring of the tape in the tissue. The edge threads are firmly incorporated in the structure of the tape.