What You Need To Know About Bladder Weakness

Don’t let bladder problems make your life miserable. We’re here to help

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Do you dread coughing, laughing or sneezing because you might wet yourself? Well, it may be little comfort but you’re certainly not alone. ‘Around 30% of women experience some form of bladder weakness,’ says elaine Miller, a pelvic-health physiotherapist, with pregnancy, childbirth and menopause often cited as the main causes. ‘But, the real figures could be much higher than 30% as a lot of women are often too embarrassed to seek professional help.’

WHAT’S YOUR TYPE?

‘There are two main types of bladder weakness,’ says Elaine. ‘One is stress incontinence, caused by weak pelvic floor muscles where you may leak when you lift, run, jump, cough, laugh or sneeze, while the other is called urge incontinence where, as well as leaking, you also have an intense urge to urinate.’ Bladder weakness may occur after childbirth (through stretching or damage to the muscles and ligaments that support the pelvic floor), menopause (oestrogen loss weakens muscles), damage to the bladder, as well as some neurological conditions (such as multiple sclerosis).

WHY YOU NEED TO SEEK HELP

‘They may not be life-threatening, but research shows that bladder problems can have a profound emotional impact on your life,’ says Dr Megan Arroll, who is the co-author of What’s Up With Your Bladder? (Hammersmith Health Books). ‘There is still a lot of stigma attached to incontinence, and many women associate it with a loss of dignity.’