1. Stress incontinence
   Leaking happens when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, or lift something heavy. It’s due to weakness in the pelvic floor muscles or the tissues that support the bladder and urethra.

2. Urge incontinence (overactive bladder)
   A sudden, strong urge to urinate, followed by leaking before you can get to the toilet. This may be caused by overactivity of the bladder muscle.

3. Mixed incontinence
   A combination of both stress and urge incontinence.

4. Overflow incontinence
   Leaking due to the bladder not emptying fully, leading to constant dribbling. This is less common and may be linked to other medical issues.

Bladder symptoms can be better understood either through completing a bladder diary or by a test called urodynamics. Please see below for more details:

Bladder Diary

A bladder diary is used to understand your bladder function more clearly. You may be asked to complete a bladder diary over 3 days.

This is a simple chart where you record:

• What and how much you drink

• When and how much urine you pass, both day and night

• Any episodes of urgency or incontinence

The diary is an extremely useful tool. It helps us see your fluid intake, your bladder habits, and any problems, so that we can plan the best management approach for you.

Further information:Bladder Diary – Your Pelvic Floor

Urodynamics (Urodynamics test)

If your symptoms are not fully explained by your clinical assessment and bladder diary, a urodynamics test may be recommended.

This test is carried out in the clinic and usually takes about 30 minutes. It is designed to safely and gently reproduce your symptoms so we can understand them better. Urodynamics shows how well your bladder fills, stores, and empties urine, and helps us see how the bladder and urethra are working together.

What to expect:

• A very thin tube (catheter) is gently placed into the bladder

• Another small tube is placed in the vagina or back passage

• The bladder is slowly filled with sterile fluid while its function is measured

• You will be asked about the feelings and sensations you notice in your bladder during the test

The results give us important information about how your bladder works and will help us decide together which treatment options are best for you.

Further information: Urodynamics – Your Pelvic Floor

• Pregnancy and childbirth

• Ageing and menopause

• Being overweight

• Pelvic surgery (e.g. hysterectomy)

• Constipation

• Urinary tract infections

• Neurological conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, stroke)

• Certain medications

While it becomes more common with age, it is not something you have to accept. There are many treatments that can help at any age.

Yes. When done correctly and regularly, they can significantly improve or even stop leakage, especially for stress incontinence.

Not necessarily. Many women improve with simple, non-surgical treatments. Surgery is usually only considered if other options have not worked and your symptoms are affecting your quality of life.