“I was so relieved to find out it was a medical condition that could be fixed”
– Tina
To better understand bladder leakage, it helps to know how the urinary system works. Urinary function starts with your brain and spinal cord, which work together to direct the urinary system.
When your urinary system is functioning normally, you are able to control when to hold and release urine. When your bladder becomes full, it sends a signal to your brain, which in turn sends a message to the bladder to release urine into the urethra. The urethral sphincter muscle, which surrounds the urethra, opens and closes the bladder neck – it will contract to temporarily hold urine, or release itself to let urine out of the urethra and your body.
There can be several reasons why your bladder stops functioning correctly. Your brain may no longer properly signal the bladder, the sphincters do not squeeze strongly enough, or both. Alternatively, there could be a problem with the bladder muscle itself or the nerves that control these muscles where the muscle either contracts too much, or not enough. 5
Sometimes there are very evident causes for bladder leakage such as in cases of pregnancy, surgery or accidental injury. Other times it can be much less defined with no clear answer as to the cause. 6
Several factors can cause bladder leakage in females. Bladder leakage can develop slowing or be the result of a specific life event. Pressure on the bladder during pregnancy or stress on the pelvis during pregnancy can lead to bladder leakage. Genetics can also play a role, so if someone in your family experiences bladder leakage, you are even more at risk. Caffeine, smoking, and obesity have also all been linked to potential causes of bladder leakage.
The first step to finding a solution for bladder leakage is to consult a physician who can properly diagnose you. This specialist will help determine what kind of bladder leakage you are suffering from (stress urinary incontinence, urge or mixed) and what treatment options may be best for you. Treatments can include lifestyle changes, pelvic floor muscle exercises or surgical procedures.
There are a variety of exercises and treatments to help prevent urine leakage caused by stress urinary incontinence, including pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle changes, and surgical procedures.
Bladder leakage when sneezing, peeing or coughing could be a symptom of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which results from a weakening of the muscles surrounding the pelvic area — known as the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle changes, and even surgery can help reduce bladder leakage.