Articles · Bladder and leaks
What is stress urinary incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence is leaking urine when pressure presses on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting. It happens when the pelvic floor muscles or urethra support weaken; childbirth, menopause and aging are common causes. It is treatable with therapy or a sling, and if you leak with activity, you can schedule a visit at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
What does stress urinary incontinence feel like?
It's leaking urine when pressure presses on the bladder, like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting. It happens when the pelvic floor muscles or urethra support weaken.
What causes it, and how is it treated?
Childbirth, menopause and aging are common reasons the pelvic floor or urethra support weakens, so a cough, sneeze, laugh or lift can cause a leak. Our urologists sort that pattern from urgency leakage at the visit. Treatment options discussed here include pelvic floor therapy and, when it fits, a sling.
When should I schedule a visit for leaks with activity?
Schedule a visit if you leak with a cough, a sneeze, a laugh, lifting or exercise and pads are no longer enough. The first appointment at our Alpharetta / Roswell office usually includes your history, an exam and a urine test. Sudden inability to urinate, fever or heavy bleeding belongs in an emergency room.
Book a visit with Advanced Urology today.
Questions to bring to your visit
- Is therapy or a sling the better next step for me?
- How is this different from urgency leakage?
What happens at your visit with us?
Note when you leak — a cough, a sneeze, a laugh, lifting — and bring a short list of pregnancies, pelvic surgeries and bladder medicines. Our urologists at the Alpharetta / Roswell office can examine pelvic floor and urethra support and talk through therapy or a sling.
When should I call us?
Call us if you leak with activity and want a plan beyond pads. Sudden inability to urinate, fever or heavy bleeding should be evaluated in an emergency room.
How do our urologists approach this?
Stress leakage happens when pressure presses on a bladder whose pelvic-floor or urethra support has weakened. Our urologists sort that pattern from urgency leakage, then discuss the treatments named in this article that may fit you.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
An official Advanced Urology video with Dr. Herman Bagga, who sees patients at this office, on urinary stress incontinence:
Related reading from our team
Related care: bladder leakage care at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Read more from Advanced Urology: Bulkamid and stress urinary incontinence · Urinary incontinence
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.