FAQs About Bladder Leakage – HealthyWomen

What are the types of bladder leaks?

There are different types of urine loss, also called urinary incontinence:

• Stress urinary incontinence (SUI): Also called stress incontinence, this is the most common type of urine leakage. Stress urinary incontinence occurs when weak pelvic floor muscles become stretched. These weakened muscles cause urine to leak during physical activity that puts pressure on the bladder, such as coughing, laughing, and jumping. It may be a few drops or more than a tablespoon. Stress urinary incontinence is most common in women over age 50 and may get worse with menopause.
• Urge incontinence: Also called “urge” incontinence, urge incontinence is one of the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). OAB affects more than 4 in 10 women and people with AFAB. This condition is often the result of a miscommunication between the brain and the bladder. The brain tells the bladder that it’s time to empty when it’s not full. OAB can also be caused by overactive bladder muscles. In either case, with OAB you have a strong, sudden urge to urinate that can’t be ignored.
• Mixed incontinence: When people experience stress and urge incontinence. This is a common type of urine leakage in women and AFAB people over the age of 65.
• Overflow incontinence: Sometimes your body makes more urine than your bladder can handle, causing overflow incontinence. This type of urine leakage can also be caused by something blocking the flow, or your bladder muscle may not contract or tighten as it should. With this type of urine leakage, you may urinate only a small amount and/or have a constant dribble of urine, called dribbling. Overflow incontinence is more common in women after menopause.

• Functional incontinence: This type of bladder leakage is the result of another physical condition, such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s injury, disabilities, or possibly even the use of medications.

At what times in a woman’s life is she most likely to experience bladder leakage?

Women and people with AFAB can experience bladder leakage at any stage of their life, but it is most common in women over the age of 50. Bladder leakage is also common in pregnant women and people who have had a vaginal birth.

Urinary leakage is also often associated with perimenopause and menopause.

Can bladder leakage be prevented?

Bladder leakage cannot always be prevented, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of bladder leakage. You should:

• Avoid foods that irritate the bladder, including spicy and acidic foods.
• Strengthen your pelvic floor with pelvic floor exercises
• keep a healthy weight
• Add more fiber to your diet to help prevent constipation, which can be a cause of bladder leakage.
• Quit smoking if you currently smoke

There are a couple of key exercises that can help prevent bladder leakage (you may want to consult a pelvic floor therapist to make sure you’re doing them correctly). Also, keep in mind that both of the exercises below require regular practice to be effective.

• Kegel exercises, which help tighten certain pelvic muscles to strengthen them.
• The trick is to do Kegel exercises when you cough, sneeze, or do any other physical activity that might cause leakage.

How can bladder leakage be managed?

Leaking can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but there are ways to make yourself more comfortable. Leak-proof pads, such as Poise, or leak-proof underwear, such as Depend or Thinx for All Leaks, can help control wetness and odor. Pads made specifically for leaking are designed to control the odor and wetness of urine, unlike period products.

What are the treatments for bladder leakage?

Depending on the type of bladder leak you have, your health care provider may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Bladder training exercises
• Dietary changes
• Medicine
• Botox injections into the lining of the bladder.
• Increased urethral volumean injection of a thick substance around the urethra to help it retain urine.
• Surgery
• Electrical stimulation
• Urethral insertion for temporary use during activities that may cause stress urinary incontinence
• A pessary, a silicone ring that is inserted into the vagina and worn throughout the day.

An important step in finding long-term solutions to bladder leakage is to talk about it with your doctor, something very few women do. Once you start the dialogue, you can decide, together, what the best course of action is for you.