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SUI usually occurs when you sneeze, cough, laugh, lift or exercise. These actions place extra pressure on the valve of the bladder causing the accidental and uncontrollable leakage of urine. Stress Incontinence can occur when either the pelvic floor muscles have been damaged (e.g. through childbirth) or the urethral sphincter muscle becomes weakened. As a result, the base of the bladder may either move from its normal position, or the bladder's closing mechanism may no longer close sufficiently, causing the accidental leakage of urine.
Who Suffers Stress Urinary Incontinence?
It is estimated that in the UK 1 in 3 women over 18 years of age sufferers from SUI. Medical research has found that a number of factors contribute to its onset, these might be:
Women whose mother and/or sisters are incontinent have an increased risk of developing SUI symptoms and if you have an incontinent grandmother, the risk is increased further.
UI and especially SUI symptoms are much more common in women than men.
SUI is the most common type of UI in women under 60 years old.
White women are more susceptible to SUI symptoms.
Weakened muscles of the pelvic floor can increase the risk.
What are the most common causes of SUI symptoms?
Pregnancy and childbirth, SUI symptoms are common in pregnant women. While most naturally improve after delivery research suggests up to 30% of women may suffer from SUI symptoms within five years of childbirth.
Pelvic surgery and radiotherapy - Certain types of pelvic surgery (such as some types of major hysterectomy) are known to cause pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and this, in turn, increases the likelihood of a woman developing SUI symptoms. Other medical procedures like radiation can lead to nerve and muscle damage of the lower urinary tract.
Obesity and Constipation have been found to put increased pressure on the pelvic floor or interfere with the ability of these muscle structures to withstand this pressure.
Smoking and lung disease
The menopause has also been found to weaken the pelvic floor or interfere with the ability of the Pelvic floor muscles.
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