What should you know about ladies leaking urine?

Stress incontinence causes drops when coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting or exercising. Urgency incontinence is leakage after a sudden, difficult-to-delay need to pass urine. Mixed incontinence combines both patterns. Overflow leakage can happen when the bladder does not empty fully. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, constipation, pelvic floor weakness, medicines and bladder irritation can contribute.

A urinary tract infection may cause burning, urgency or new leakage. Obesity can increase pressure on the bladder, while Type 2 Diabetes may increase urine production. Leakage is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and its pattern helps determine the next step.

Book an assessment if leakage is recurring, limiting activities or affecting sleep. Keep a bladder diary showing drinks, toilet visits, urgency and accidents. Pelvic floor muscle training can help stress leakage when taught and practised consistently. Bladder training may extend the time between urgent toilet visits. Avoid constipation, moderate bladder irritants if they worsen symptoms, and maintain sensible fluid intake rather than restricting drinks severely.

A clinician may check urine, medicines, pelvic floor function and bladder emptying. Treatment depends on the pattern and can include supervised exercises, bladder training, medicines or referral for specialist care.

Seek prompt care for blood in the urine, fever with back or side pain, severe lower abdominal pain, inability to pass urine, new leg weakness or numbness, or loss of bowel control. Sudden leakage with confusion or severe illness also needs urgent assessment. Arrange routine care for persistent leakage, pain, recurrent infections or symptoms that are changing.

Which type of incontinence fits my symptoms? Should my urine be tested? Would pelvic floor physiotherapy or bladder training suit me? Could a medicine, constipation or diabetes be contributing? What changes should prompt urgent review?