Private Gynaecology and Specialist care

Female incontinence

Around one in four women experience some form of urinary incontinence, and while a leaky bladder might be common, many women feel too embarrassed to talk to anyone about it.

We’re here to help. We understand how urinary incontinence can have a big impact on your daily life. Our gynaecology team are on hand to offer you support, advice and the most effective treatments to manage your condition.

What are the different types of urinary incontinence?

‘Urge incontinence’ and ‘stress incontinence’ are the most common forms of the condition.

Urge incontinence is if you suddenly feel the need to urinate. You may be unable to control little leaks, even if you’ve only recently been to the toilet. This is usually the result of an overactive or irritated bladder.

Stress urinary incontinence accounts for around 65% of all female incontinence. It’s when you tend to leak urine if you cough, sneeze or do any sudden activity. And it happens because your bladder is under pressure, but the pelvic floor muscles surrounding it aren’t strong enough to stop urine from escaping.

Who does urinary incontinence affect?

The answer is it can affect any woman, regardless of age or whether she’s given birth. And while there is no ‘typical’ woman who experiences incontinence it is often most common after childbirth (particularly after a vaginal delivery) and during or after menopause.

Managing urinary incontinence

For a simple and effective way to improve bladder control, pelvic floor exercises are a great place to start. The more you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, the more they’ll be able to support your bladder. If you’re having trouble working out where these muscles are, try to stop urinating mid-flow (although, don’t do this too often as you’ll increase your chance of urinary infections). When you squeeze in and up, you’ll be using your pelvic floor muscles to do this. If you want more information on how to strengthen your pelvic floor, our gynaecologists can guide you on all you need to get started with some simple, daily exercises.

Treating female incontinence at our London clinic

The Consultant Gynaecologists at The Medical Chambers Kensington offer a range of effective, painless nonsurgical treatments to help with urinary incontinence. These include Laser Therapy and Radiofrequency Treatment. Your chosen Consultant Gynaecologist will discuss with you the best treatment plan for your needs.

To find out the costs of consultations and treatments click here. To find out how our private incontinence specialist can help you, please telephone 020 7244 4200 for a confidential chat or make an appointment online.