What causes stress urinary incontinence (SUI)?

According to some studies, there is increasing evidence that urinary incontinence is related to a person’s genetics. If someone in your family has urine leakage issues, you are more likely to experience it in your lifetime as well.

During pregnancy, carrying a baby can put extra pressure on the bladder. During labor and delivery, the nerves and muscles that control urinary function can also become damaged. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after childbirth is common.

Menopause is one of the causes SUI. Estrogen levels decrease during menopause, leading to the thinning of the pelvic floor muscles, causing lower support to the pelvic floor, which can lead to SUI.

Women’s pelvic floor muscles hold up the pelvic organs, including the vagina, cervix, uterus, bladder, urethra, intestines and rectum. If these muscles and tissue weaken, it can lead to urine leakage, accidental bowel leakage and pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Any surgery involving a woman’s reproductive organs has a potential for damaging the pelvic floor muscles surrounding the surgical site. This is especially true if part of the pelvic floor is removed, such as during a hysterectomy.

• Disease overview: Causes of stress urinary incontinence include pregnancy or childbirth, chronic coughing, constipation, obesity, aging, smoking, extreme weight lifting and genetics, menopause, previous pelvic surgeries, and pelvic floor disorders.
• Treatment options: There are lifestyle changes that can be made to attempt to reduce symptoms of SUI including keeping an empty bladder, drinking less fluids, losing weight, quitting smoking, limiting physical activities, and stopping extreme weight lifting activities.