Understanding Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

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Have you ever laughed so hard that you leaked accidentally? 1 in 3 women can have Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)¹, a common condition where unwanted bladder leaks happen during normal daily activities. SUI tends to develop as we get older, during or after pregnancy, and in women with certain pelvic floor conditions. Leaks can occur when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, or even through less vigorous activities like standing up and bending over. These leaks occur because the muscles surrounding the opening of the bladder are not strong enough to prevent urine from leaking out when activities put increased pressure on the bladder. Another way to visualize this is by imagining your bladder is like a water balloon. When you do things like cough, sneeze, or even stand up, it’s like squeezing that balloon. If the balloon’s opening isn’t tight enough, some water might squirt out. That’s what happens with SUI. The amount of urine you leak can vary from just a few drops to being enough to soak through your clothes.

Stress Urinary Incontinence is caused by a weakening of the muscles around the urethra, resulting in leakage of urine when physical activity increases pressure on the bladder.

Reference: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/s/stress-urinary-incontinence-(sui)

CAUSES OF STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

While pregnancy and childbirth are the top factors increasing risk of stress incontinence, there are other health factors that also may increase your risk. They include:

Loss of pelvic muscle tone. This can often occur with aging or childbirth, although people of all ages can develop SUI.
Hysterectomy (or any other surgery that affects your pelvic floor)
Nerve and muscle damage from childbirth or surgical trauma
Obesity
Menopause
Chronic coughing due to smoking and lung disease
Repeated heavy lifting or high-impact sports

STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE CAN IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE

Stress urinary incontinence can affect your quality of life. The physical and emotional demands created by stress incontinence can leave you feeling exhausted, embarrassed, and even depressed.

TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

Behavioral Modifications

Quit smoking and control any chronic coughing

Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels) can help improve symptoms by strengthening the pelvic floor

Urethral Bulking

Urethral bulking agents such as Bulkamid®are injected into the wall of the urethra in order to “bulk up” the walls.

Outpatient procedure is usually done in the office.
It is low risk and allows you to continue to be active immediately.

Many women opt for urethral bulking as a treatment for their SUI over more invasive surgery because the procedure can be done under local anesthetic and there is a short recovery time along with less risk of serious complications.5 In fact, the majority of women with SUI choose Bulkamid before other treatment options.6

Furthermore, having Bulkamid does not exclude you from pursuing other treatment options in the future.7 See the important safety information for the full list of potential complications.

To learn more and identify a physician offering Bulkamid near you, visit FindRealRelief.com

References

Magon, N et al. J Midlife Health. 2011
The Lewin Group, Inc. National Women’s Health Resource Center 2007
Itkonen Freitas et al., Tension free vaginal tape vs polyacrylamide hydrogel injection for primary stress urinary incontinence: a randomised controlled trial., J Urol., 2020 Feb., Vol. 203, 372-378
The Lewin Group, Inc. National Women’s Health Resource Center 2007
Sokol ER, Karram MM, Dmochowski R. Efficacy and safety of polyacrylamide hydrogel for the treatment of female stress incontinence: a randomized, prospective, multicenter North American study. J Urol. 2014 Sep;192(3):843-9
Dwyer et al., “Voice your choice”: A study of women’s choice of surgery for primary stress urinary incontinence, International Urogynecology Journal (2020), 31:769-777.
Bulkamid Patient Information Leaflet 2021 OUS 110-0256-003rB 06/202

Disclaimer: Axonics does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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The Financial Impact of Incontinence: Costs You May Not See

Incontinence is often discussed in terms of symptoms and quality of life but for many people, it also brings a steady (and sometimes surprising) financial burden. Beyond the obvious cost of pads, protective underwear, and skin-care products, there can be added expenses from laundry, missed work, caregiving needs, and medical visits. The good news: understanding where the costs come from is the first step toward reducing them—and getting the right treatment can be a cost-saver, not just a health improvement.

Speaking Up About Incontinence

For many people living with bladder leaks, the hardest part isn’t the symptoms themselves.
It’s deciding to talk about them.
Bladder leaks can feel too small to mention, too embarrassing to explain, or not “serious enough” to justify a doctor’s visit. Many people quietly manage symptoms for years—adjusting their routines, limiting activities, and hoping things don’t get worse.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for feeling this way.

Incontinence by the Numbers

How common it is, why it’s increasing, and what an aging population means for patients and families
Incontinence is often treated as something people should keep private — but the reality is that it’s extremely common, and it affects millions of Americans every day.
As our population ages, especially with Baby Boomers entering older adulthood, more people are living with bladder and bowel control problems. That means more patients seeking answers, more caregivers providing support, and greater impact on families and the healthcare system.
Understanding the numbers helps reduce stigma — and reminds people that they are not alone and help is available.

Understanding Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

CAUSES OF STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE CAN IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE