Stress urinary incontinence (SUI)
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI)
SUI is the most common type and is experienced by roughly 50 per cent of people with incontinence. It is characterised by dribbling or leakage of urine on sneezing, coughing, laughing, exercise, rising from sitting, or lifting. The urethral sphincter muscle and/or pelvic floor muscles are insufficiently strong to contain the flow of urine when intra-abdominal pressure increases.
SUI is commonly associated with pregnancy and childbirth, which can weaken or damage the pelvic floor. Lack of oestrogen at the menopause can affect the health of vaginal and urethral tissue and the resulting atrophy can aggravate or cause SUI.