Leaky Bladder? Take Control!

It’s not the easiest topic to talk about, but it’s far more common than most of us realise

- Amy Hadley

Recent research by adult incontinence brand Always Discreet found one in three Australian women have experienced bladder leakage, yet 41 per cent have never confided in anyone about it. Find out why it happens and how you can manage it.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?

Dr Ginni Mansberg explains that there are two main types of bladder leakage, which is where some urine comes out when you don’t intend for it to.

“Stress incontinence is when a weak pelvic floor allows wee to escape from the bladder when extra stress is placed on the pelvic floor – think sneezing, coughing, star jumps and skipping,” says Dr Mansberg. “Urge incontinence is an overactive bladder that can discharge some or all of its contents at the most random times for no obvious reason.”

She explains that for the latter you might frequently feel the need to go to the toilet, often through the night. Most women experience a combination of the two types of bladder leakage, which is called mixed incontinence.

WHAT CAUSES IT?