What is the first treatment for stress urinary incontinence?

Stress urinary incontinence is leakage when pressure on the bladder rises, such as during coughing, sneezing, lifting or exercise. Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles that support the bladder outlet and help them contract at the right time. A pelvic floor physiotherapist can check technique, tailor the programme and address contributing factors such as poor muscle coordination.

Improvement takes practice and follow-through rather than a single session. Your clinician may also discuss fluid habits, constipation, smoking and activities that trigger leakage. A personal assessment matters because leakage can have more than one pattern.

Arrange an assessment with a clinician or pelvic floor physiotherapist. Learn how to tighten the pelvic floor without holding your breath or repeatedly clenching the abdomen, buttocks or thighs. Practise the prescribed exercises regularly and record when leakage occurs so progress can be reviewed.

If symptoms remain troublesome after a structured programme, your clinician may discuss further assessment, including Urodynamic Testing, or procedural options such as a Mid-Urethral Sling.

Seek medical advice for new or worsening leakage, blood in the urine, pain when passing urine, fever, difficulty emptying the bladder or pelvic pain. Urgent help is appropriate if you cannot pass urine or feel acutely unwell.

Ask whether your leakage pattern fits stress incontinence, whether you need supervised Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy, and how long to continue exercises before reviewing the plan.