I keep leaking urine: what should I know?

Leakage with coughing, laughing, lifting or exercise differs from a sudden urge that is hard to postpone. Dribbling, difficulty starting, frequent night-time urination or a feeling of incomplete emptying may point to a different bladder or outlet problem. Urinary Tract Infection can cause urgency and leakage with burning, while Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, Dementia or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia may affect bladder control in particular situations.

Keep a bladder diary: record drinks, toilet visits, leaks, urgency, activities and urine symptoms. Include pregnancy or pelvic procedures, bowel habits, mobility, and every medicine or supplement. These details help a clinician choose an examination and next step.

Maintain sensible fluid intake rather than severely restricting drinks, and reduce caffeine if it worsens urgency. Plan toilet access, treat constipation, and use absorbent products as temporary support. Pelvic-floor training or bladder training can help some patterns, but a clinician or continence specialist should show you the correct technique.

Arrange an appointment for new, worsening or bothersome leakage, especially with burning, pelvic pain, unusual thirst, leg weakness, difficulty emptying or blood in the urine. Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine, have fever with flank pain, new numbness around the saddle area, or sudden loss of bladder control with leg weakness.

Ask which type of leakage your pattern suggests, whether urine testing or a medication review is needed, and how to practise pelvic-floor or bladder training. Ask how to protect your skin and which warning signs should prompt urgent care.