Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)

Stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence. It causes you to leak urine during physical exertion. It can happen during exercise, coughing, laughing and sneezing. Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) can strengthen muscles and reduce symptoms. Some people need pessaries, bladder slings or other treatments.

Stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence. It most often affects the urinary system in people assigned female at birth (AFAB). As many as 1 in 3 people who were AFAB will experience stress urinary incontinence at some point. It’s less common for the condition to affect men, but it does happen.

More than half of people with stress incontinence also have urge incontinence. Having both stress and urge incontinence is known as mixed incontinence. An overactive bladder causes urge incontinence. This type of urinary incontinence causes you to leak urine when you feel an urgent need to pee.

Overflow incontinence is a different type of urinary incontinence. It causes you to leak urine because your bladder is too full or you can’t completely empty it.

Symptoms

Stress incontinence causes urine to leak when something puts pressure on your bladder (the organ in the urinary system that holds pee). You may release small amounts of urine when you cough, sneeze or laugh. Physical exertion like jumping, running or lifting a heavy object can also cause you to pee.

Treatments for women

Stress Incontinence Treatments For Women Include:

• Vaginal Estrogen Creams, Gels, Rings Or Patches That Strengthen Vaginal Muscles And Tissues After Menopause.
• Insertable Vaginal Pessary Devices That Support The Bladder And Urethra.
• Urethral Injections To Temporarily Bulk Up The Urethral Muscle And Keep The Sphincter Closed.
• Surgery To Place A Sling Made Of Your Tissue, Donor Tissue Or Surgical Mesh Under The Urethra To Support It.