Treatment for female urinary incontinence

• Stress incontinence: This is when movement or physical activity – such as coughing, sneezing or exercise – puts pressure on your bladder causing involuntary leaks of urine. It happens because the muscles surrounding the bladder – the pelvic floor muscles or the sphincter – aren’t strong enough to stop urine from escaping. 
• Urge incontinence: As the name suggests, this is when you have a frequent urge to pee, even if you’ve only just been to the toilet. Many women find themselves repeatedly getting up in the night to use the bathroom or feel like they may have an ‘accident’ if they don't get to the bathroom in time. Again, weakness in the muscles around the bladder can be responsible, as well as neurological issues connected to bladder control. 
• Mixed incontinence: Many women experience a combination of stress and urge incontinence, resulting in leaks throughout the day, together with frequent urges to pee.

Involuntary leaks and the frequent urge to urinate can happen at any stage in our lives but are most common after childbirth and as we get older.  A decrease in our oestrogen levels during menopause can cause the muscles supporting the bladder to become thinner and weaker, and can lead to incontinence. Women who have had a vaginal delivery may also experience problems with incontinence, due to prolapse or a weakening or straining of the pelvic floor muscles.

We find that first-line treatment for female urinary incontinence – such as guided pelvic physiotherapy and lifestyle changes – often leads to a significant improvement for many of our patients. Other women also hugely benefit from personalised HRT or topical oestrogen, or state of the art technology such as radiofrequency, which can help strengthen the vaginal walls and pelvic floor muscles. 

Women shouldn’t have to simply live with incontinence, especially if it is seriously impacting their lives. Whether you’re looking for an effective stress incontinence treatment or ways to strengthen your pelvic floor, we have a team of leading clinicians, including Consultant Gynaecologists who are here to support and guide you. They are specialists in their field and combine the latest technology with a fully integrated, holistic approach, to help work out a plan that is right for you.

The right treatment will vary from one woman to another, depending on the cause and the severity of the problem. We also understand that many women, especially those who have had certain types of cancer, may wish to avoid hormone-based medication. We therefore have a wide range of approaches to choose from and our specialists will tailor a plan according to your specific needs and lifestyle. 

This can include: 

• Guided physiotherapy 
• Personalised nutrition advice 
• Topical oestrogen for those in perimenopause and menopause
• HRT, personalised to your body’s requirements 
• Radiofrequency, non-hormonal, non-surgical treatment for vaginal symptoms. Particularly suitable for those who have had breast or ovarian cancer
• Medications that calm the bladder nerves