Bladder Problems

A women's health physio can help manage bladder problems including:

• Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI);
• Urgency and Urge Incontinence (UUI); and
• Mixed Urinary Incontinence (MUI).

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is the accidental leakage of urine on physical exertion, or with sneezing or coughing.

SUI commonly occurs with high impact exercise (eg, jumping, running) but may also occur with other activities including lifting, pushing, pulling or laughing. The amount of leakage can vary from small drops to large amounts requiring a change of clothing.

SUI is common - one in three women who have had a baby experiencing leakage. However, it is not normal, and can be treated.

Pelvic floor muscle exercises are recommended as the best first treatment for SUI. To ensure you are doing these exercises correctly, it is recommended you see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist, who can check your technique. A Women’s Health Physio will also progress your exercises to make them more specific for your needs, and advise on modifying any lifestyle factors that may be having an impact as well.

Some women also find a support pessary can help them to continue exercise without leaking. This can be fitted by a Women’s Health Physio.

Urgency and Urge Incontinence

Urinary Urgency is a sudden, strong need to urinate which is hard to ignore - often described as that “busting” feeling. People with urinary urgency will usually rush to the toilet for fear of leaking. However, some with urinary urgency need to rush to the toilet for fear of bladder or pelvic pain.

Urine leakage may or may not occur with urgency. When there is urine leakage associated with urgency, this is called Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI).

Many people who suffer from Urinary Urgency complain they have to go to the toilet more often than normal, both during the day (frequency), and at night (nocturia).

A combined treatment approach is usually best to help urinary urgency. This includes:

• Bladder training - learning techniques to calm the urgent feeling, and gradually decrease the number of times you need to go to the toilet.
• Lifestyle modification - including managing your fluid intake, and learning about bladder habits.
• Medication - this is usually most helpful when used in combination with other treatments. You need to see your GP or specialist for a prescription.
• Pelvic floor muscle exercises - can be helpful for some people with urgency and urge incontinence. However, for those with associated pain or pelvic floor muscle overactivity, pelvic floor muscle strengthening will make things worse. Therefore it is important to see a Women’s Health Physio, who can help you work out your particular problem.
• Those with more severe symptoms may benefit from electrical stimulation therapy, botox or surgery.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) is a combination of both Stress Urinary Incontinence (leakage on coughing, sneezing or physical exertion) and Urge Urinary Incontinence (leakage with a sudden strong urge to void). People with MUI may have more stress incontinence or more urge incontinence.

Treatment using a combined approach for both types of incontinence works best. A Women’s Health Physio can guide you through the best treatment strategies for you.