TL;DR: Stress urinary incontinence is common but treatable, and you don’t have to live with it. From lifestyle changes to pelvic exercises, bladder training, and surgical options like slings or injections, there’s hope for relief. At Virginia Physicians for Women, personalized care empowers you to reclaim confidence and control.
- Stress urinary incontinence is caused by weakened support for the bladder and urethra.
- Common symptoms include leakage during laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
- Causes include childbirth, menopause, aging, and hormonal shifts.
- Tracking symptoms in a bladder diary helps guide diagnosis.
- Treatment options include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Pelvic floor exercises
- Bladder training
- Injections and colposuspension
- Surgical sling procedures
- VPFW offers supportive, expert care to help women overcome SUI.
You might be reading this and not even think twice about crossing your legs when you sneeze or cough hard. Maybe you’ve had a baby, or maybe you have aged and feel like this is just nature taking its course.
While incontinence is common, you don’t have to settle for a life of leakage! Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary leakage of urine during common lifestyle activities. Common stress urinary incontinence symptoms include incontinence while coughing, laughing or exercising.
Stress incontinence in women effects at least 10-20% of those over the age of 45. Likewise, it impacts half of all women over the age of 65. Needless to say, if you leak, you are not alone!
Even so, incontinence can largely affect your personal and social lifestyle. Sadly, a lot of women do not realize how often this occurs. They are surprised to learn how many simple, effective treatment options are available!
What causes urinary incontinence in women, and how do we treat it at the Urogynecology Center at VPFW?
In this blog post, we’ll share more about stress urinary incontinence treatment and how to leave the leak in the past.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence in Women?
Stress Urinary Incontinence is linked to weakened support for the bladder and urethra. About one in three women will experience SUI in their lifetime. That makes it the most common type of urinary incontinence.
Though it may feel shameful to discuss, it’s extremely common and caused by a range of factors outside of your control.
Below are the most common causes in women:
- Pelvic floor damage during pregnancy and childbirth
- Nerve damage during childbirth
- Declining estrogen levels during menopause
- Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause
- Age-related muscle weakness
Luckily, there are many options for stress urinary incontinence treatment. First, let’s discuss the symptoms.
Stress Urinary Incontinence Symptoms
We understand that it can be uncomfortable to talk about SUI. Your doctor helps women with the same issues every day. Don’t feel nervous or embarrassed to share personal details about how this is impacting your lifestyle. We are here to help.
You might find it worthwhile to bring it up to your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
- Bladder leaking during every day activities such as sneezing, laughing and coughing
- Leakage when lifting heavy objects or during your exercise routine
- Feeling an urgent and uncontrollable need to urinate
- Feeling you can’t completely empty your bladder, which can cause urine leaks afterwards
- Difficulty starting a urine stream
At VPFW, we pride ourselves on creating an environment where you feel comfortable and safe. Please don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor about your concerns or symptoms. Be sure to bring this up at the beginning of your visit and not wait until the end. That way, you and your doctor have ample opportunity to discuss in detail.
Before Seeing a Doctor About Stress Urinary Incontinence
Start keeping a bladder diary 2-4 weeks prior to your appointment. This is a tool to track your day-to-day symptoms.
In your diary, you will write down your liquid intake and how often you are using the restroom. You will also need to track when you are having leaks and what might have caused the leak. Always note what you were doing when the leak occurred.
The diary will help provide your doctor with a strong foundation to discuss potential solutions.
Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment Options
Depending on the cause and severity, your doctor might offer you one or more of the following non-invasive SUI treatment options:
Lifestyle changes
First, your doctor may recommend changing your diet and maintaining a healthy weight. Constipation can make incontinence worse. Eat high fiber foods and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day.
If you are a smoker, quitting is one of the most important lifestyle changes to make. Chronic coughing can increase the frequency and severity of urinary leaks and pressure on the pelvic floor.
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Over 75% of women who regularly completed pelvic floor exercises showed improvement within 3-6 months.
Bladder Training
For women who experience a problem with urge urinary incontinence, some doctors suggest bladder training. In essence, that means following a fixed schedule to urinate. This would include lengthening the time between bathroom visits by a small amount of time.
Do I Need Surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence?
Not always. Surgery is usually considered only if:
- The leakage is significantly affecting daily life, and
- Pelvic-floor therapy, lifestyle changes, medications, or pessaries haven’t helped, and
- The patient has finished having children (recommended because pregnancy can reverse the surgical benefits).
The most common surgical treatment now is the mid-urethral sling. A small permanent mesh sling is placed under the urethra. The sling works by providing support to the urethra when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising. Its success rate: 80–90% of patients see symptom improvement or become dry following the surgery.
Other surgical options for SUI treatment include:
- Urethral bulking injections: Material injected around the urethra helps it close more tightly. It is a minimally invasive procedure but may need repeat treatments.
- Colposuspension: Sutures are used to lift and support the bladder neck and urethra. The procedure is less common today but still effective.
Your doctor will help evaluate your symptoms, goals, exam findings, and overall health to decide if surgery is the best option for you.
Seek Freedom from Stress Urinary Incontinence at VPFW
There is no time like the present to seek help. Gain back your confidence and take the first step by booking your appointment with us today.
Make an appointment with the Urogynecology Center at VPFW at one of our Richmond, VA, locations. Call VPFW at 804-897-2100 or message us to schedule online.
