Gotta Go? Understanding Stress Urinary Incontinence

Leak a little when you sneeze, cough or exercise? You're not alone. Stress urinary incontinence affects millions of women. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I regularly work with women struggling with stress incontinence.

What is Stress Incontinence?

Stress incontinence refers to the unintentional loss of urine during physical activities that increase abdominal pressure such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. It's called "stress" incontinence because physical stressors provoke the leakage.

Common Symptoms

The main symptom is urine leakage triggered by an increase in pressure through your body such as:

• Coughing, laughing or sneezing

• Running or jumping

• Lifting heavy objects

• Changing positions, like standing up from a sitting position

You may just leak a few drops or enough to dampen your clothes. Stress incontinence is very common after childbirth and in perimenopause.

Causes:

Stress incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and urinary spinchter cannot resist increased abdominal pressure during physical activities. Factors that can affect the pelvic floor include:

• Pregnancy and childbirth

• Menopause

• Hysterectomy

• Chronic constipation

• Obsesity

• Heavy lifting

• Advanced age

• Diastasis Recti

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help

In pelvic floor therapy we identify factors contributing to your stress incontinence, such as a weakened core, poor pressure management, a weak or overactive pelvic floor, etc. Pelvic therapy almost always improves or resolves stress incontinence without the need of surgery.

Don’t let stress incontinence limit your activity and quality of life. Seek help from a pelvic floor specialist. With proper training, many people can reduce or regain control over their bladders. Contact us today to take control of your stress incontinence!