We can help you create a plan to treat and manage your condition.
Stress incontinence is caused by physical movement
Despite how it sounds, stress incontinence is not related to a psychological
state or “feeling stressed out”. It happens when physical
movement or activity (such as coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercising,
having sex, or lifting something heavy) puts pressure (stress) on your
bladder, which leads to leaking urine.
Stress incontinence is more common in women than men. With the right treatment,
it’s possible to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
What causes stress incontinence?
Stress incontinence happens when the pelvic floor muscles and urinary sphincter
lose strength. For women, this often happens due to childbirth. Stress
incontinence from delivering a child may start right after delivery, or
not until years later. Stress incontinence is also common in men following
prostate cancer surgery.
Other factors include:
Chronic coughing
Being overweight
Smoking
Years of high-impact exercise and activities like running and jumping
To learn more about stress urinary incontinence, visit our
health library here.
Treatment options for stress urinary incontinence
Though stress urinary incontinence can be frustrating, it is treatable.
Treatment options can vary based on how severe the condition is, the underlying
cause, and your preferences.
It’s best to talk to your provider, who can explain possible approaches
to treatment—some of which are more invasive than others. Common
treatment options include:
Lifestyle changes: You may benefit from behavior changes that reduce how often urine leaks
and how severe it is. Examples include losing weight, avoiding what irritates
the bladder (such as caffeine or alcohol), and doing pelvic floor exercises.
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT): PFMT is a type of exercise that targets the muscles that control bladder
function. A physical therapist or another provider can help you with PFMT.
Pessary: A pessary is a device made of silicone or plastic that’s inserted
into the vagina to support pelvic organs. Your provider helps fit the
pessary to your shape and size. The device can be temporary or long-term
to help with leakage.
Surgery: Different surgery options are available for those with more severe or
ongoing urinary incontinence. Examples include bladder neck suspension,
urethral bulking procedure, mid-urethral sling, or artificial urinary
sphincter implantation.
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