Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)
Also known as Weak Bladder, or Bladder Weakness
Originally published on: September 15th, 2021.
What is Stress Urinary Incontinence?
Some people leak when they cough, sneeze or laugh. This is called Stress Urinary Incontinence. This usually happens because the muscles in the pelvic floor or sphincter are weak or damaged.
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is defined as a sudden unintentional loss of urine during normal day-to-day activities. It is also commonly referred to as bladder weakness and weak bladder. If you have this problem you may notice leakage if you laugh, cough, sneeze, walk, exercise, or lift something.
What Causes Bladder Weakness (or Stress Urinary Incontinence)?
膀胱无力通常发生在盆底肌肉或括约肌受损或减弱时。
男性和女性都有盆底。它由几层肌肉组成，固定膀胱和肠道，帮助防止渗漏。括约肌是一种环绕在尿道(尿液流出的管道)周围的圆形肌肉，当膀胱充满时，括约肌会挤压以形成密封，这样尿液就不会泄漏出来。
In women, these muscles can be weakened during pregnancy by the extra weight and natural hormonal changes. Childbirth can cause more problems especially if delivery is prolonged or the baby is large. Forceps and ventouse assisted deliveries may increase the risk of damage, muscle tearing or episiotomies (where the muscle is cut to allow an easier birth) can cause further damage.
Some women develop stress urinary incontinence after the menopause. This is because the pelvic floor becomes weaker following hormone changes within the body. Even before the menopause, some women may notice that they have a weaker bladder than normal in the week before a period. Stress urinary incontinence may occur after a hysterectomy and also after operations on the bladder.
People who have been constipated for a long time or have a chronic cough may also be prone to stress urinary incontinence. Men can develop stress urinary incontinence if they are experiencing problems related to their prostate gland or post prostate surgery.
Treatment For Stress Urinary Incontinence
It is important to have your symptoms assessed by a health professional who will assess your bladder behaviour and pelvic floor and confirm that you have stress urinary incontinence.
The main treatment for stress incontinence ispelvic floor exercises. Surgery to tighten or support the bladder outlet can also help. Medication may be used in addition to exercises if you do not want, or are not suitable for surgery.
There is medication available for treating women with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, along with pelvic floor muscle exercises. Older people with other problems in addition to their bladder may benefit from seeing a specialist in medicine for older people.
Further Information
If you are concerned about your problem and it is starting to affect your day-to-day life make an appointment to see your doctor, continence nurse or specialist physiotherapist. A continence nurse and specialist physiotherapist are healthcare professionals who specialise in bladder and bowel problems.
For more detailed information about treatments for stress urinary incontinence you will find more information in the article below.