Understanding Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

MORE+

Have you ever laughed so hard that you accidentally leaked? 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.

Clicking links may take you to third-party sites that are not under the control of Axonics. Although Axonics has no reason to believe the information provided by such third-party websites is not accurate, Axonics is not responsible for the content of any third-party websites and/or any links contained in the third-party websites. Axonics does not endorse or guarantee the products, information, services, or recommendations provided by linked websites.

All Posts, Stress urinary incontinence, Urinary Incontinence

Comments

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Click here for more about our Trusted Partners, including special offers on products and services.

Five women of varying ages stand close together, smiling and laughing. The text discusses vital conversations on health—from postpartum to incontinence after prostate cancer surgery—on the Life Without Leaks NAFC podcast.

From Postpartum to Postmenopause: The Conversations Women Need to Have

In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we’re joined by Dr. Barbara Frank of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with Alex Fennell, co-founder of Attn: Grace, an innovative manufacturer of incontinence products.

Together, we explore the realities of bladder leaks and pelvic floor health during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, perimenopause and menopause, and we discuss why more women are finally beginning to talk more openly about their experiences.

The conversation covers:
• The connection between hormones, menopause and bladder leaks
• Why pelvic floor therapy is having a major moment
• The surprising relationship between pelvic floor tension and incontinence
• How products can impact skin health, comfort and UTIs
• The truth about hormone replacement therapy
• Why community and conversation matter so much in women’s health

Alex also shares the story behind Attn: Grace and the company’s mission to create cleaner, plant-based incontinence products designed to support women with comfort, dignity and confidence.

Whether you’re navigating postpartum recovery, menopause symptoms or simply looking to better understand pelvic health, this episode offers expert insights, practical advice and an encouraging reminder that no one should feel alone in these experiences.

A person sitting on a beige bath mat is placing an incontinence pad into their underwear for skin protection. A box labeled Attn: Grace with blue designs sits on the mat nearby.

Ask The Expert: From A Doctor’s Perspective What Are Some Common Questions You Hear?

If you’ve ever sneezed and held your breath hoping for the best, you’re not alone. Bladder leaks, pelvic floor issues, and the constellation of symptoms that go with them are incredibly common — and incredibly under-discussed. We sat down with two of our favorite experts who are changing the bladder leak conversation: Dr. Barbara Frank, Attn: Grace medical advisor and board certified OB/GYN, and Dr. Sara Reardon, pelvic floor physical therapist (and the woman your pelvic floor has been waiting to meet). They took turns asking each other the questions their patients ask most — and answered them with the same candor they bring to the exam room. They cover everything from how to prepare for postpartum, to what question to ask your own pelvic floor PT, to how to manage incontinence during menopause. This is a knowledge drop you don’t want to miss.

Two older women smiling and walking together on a sunny neighborhood sidewalk, one holding a coffee cup. Both enjoy the confidence provided by discreet incontinence products for women. Trees and houses line the street in the background.

How Aging Changes Bladder Control — What Most People Don’t Expect

As an RN who’s worked in geriatrics for over 14 years, I know first hand that changes in bladder control can be a common part of aging. However, what I’ve also learned is that the treatment and management of these changes differ depending on whether they are due to aging or other conditions.
If you’re experiencing more frequent trips to the bathroom or sudden, intense urges to urinate, you might be wondering what is going on and what you can do about it. Let’s talk through some of the changes that might be going on in your body and how you can be better prepared to manage your bladder control.

From Postpartum to Postmenopause: The Conversations Women Need to Have

Alex also shares the story behind Attn: Grace and the company’s mission to create cleaner, plant-based incontinence products designed to support women with comfort, dignity and confidence.

Understanding Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women

CAUSES OF STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE

STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE CAN IMPACT QUALITY OF LIFE