Urinary incontinence is a very common reproductive health concern for women of all ages. And while there are several different types of urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence is by far the most common. Stress urinary incontinence causes unwanted urine leakage from the bladder as a result of mild physical activities like laughing, sneezing, coughing, or exercising. Since patient education is so important to us here at Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett, we wanted to present a few helpful facts about stress urinary incontinence to help women better understand this condition.
- Roughly 1 in every 3 women will experience stress urinary incontinence at some point in their lives.
- This includes 1 in every 2 women aged 65 and up.
- Over 50% of women with stress urinary incontinence also have urge incontinence, otherwise known as an overactive bladder.
- Women with mild cases may only experience urine leakage during strenuous physical activity like working out.
- In more moderate or severe cases, urine leakage can occur during normal daily activities like standing up or bending over.
- Stress urinary incontinence is often caused by stretching, weakening, or damaging of the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and urethra.
- This can happen as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as chronic coughing, certain nerve injuries, and other health issues.
- Certain lifestyle factors like being overweight and smoking can increase a woman’s risk of developing stress urinary incontinence.
While it can be extremely difficult to deal with, the good news is that stress urinary incontinence can be effectively managed and treated. Potential treatment options include medication, pelvic floor therapy, FemTouch™ Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation treatments, and more. Our experts always begin by working with our patients to pinpoint the underlying cause of incontinence symptoms. For more information or to request an appointment with Dr. Kristine Gould or one of our other providers today, please contact Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and our medical spa, MadEmEl Medical Aesthetics, on Instagram.
