Overview
Urinary incontinence means leaking urine without meaning to. Stress incontinence happens with coughing, sneezing or lifting. Urge incontinence is a sudden need to go that you cannot hold. Many women have both.
Symptoms
- Leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise
- A sudden urge followed by leakage
- Passing urine very often
- Waking at night to pass urine
When to see a doctor
Seek care promptly if you have:
- Sudden leakage with weakness or numbness in the legs
- Blood in your urine
- Pain or inability to empty the bladder
Causes
- Weakening of the pelvic floor after childbirth
- Hormonal changes after menopause
- An overactive bladder muscle
- Nerve conditions
Risk factors
- Pregnancy and vaginal delivery
- Age
- Obesity
- Chronic cough
- Constipation
Diagnosis
- History and a three-day bladder diary
- Examination
- Urine test
- Ultrasound to check bladder emptying
- Urodynamic studies
Treatment
- Pelvic floor muscle exercises and bladder training.
- Weight loss and treating constipation or cough.
- Medicines for an overactive bladder.
- Mid-urethral sling — a minimally invasive procedure for stress incontinence.
At MJ Shah Hospital: Leaking urine or repeated infections are common, not something to put up with. Most women improve with exercises, medicines or a short procedure. Women's Urology →
FAQs
Is leaking urine just part of ageing?
It is common, but it is not something you have to accept. Most women improve with treatment.
Do pelvic floor exercises really work?
For many women with stress incontinence, regular, correctly done exercises improve leakage significantly. A physiotherapist can teach the technique.
Is sling surgery a major operation?
It is a minimally invasive procedure with a short hospital stay. Your urologist will explain whether it suits your type of incontinence.
Medical review: pending — Dr. Abhishek M. Shah · Content prepared October 2026. This guide is general information and does not replace a consultation.