Why am I leaking wee all of a sudden?

[Ricecakesaremyjam]

Not sure where best to post for this. I’m 40, two kids youngest being 5, and in the last few months I’m noticing after going for a wee I’m leaking a couple of drops having just gone.
I would have expected this post childbirth etc but it didn’t happen, so why now randomly? Worried this could get worse? And that I will start to smell of wee 😮 sex life killer.
am I not too young for my pelvic floor to just go?
would an electronic pelvic floor machine stop this?
any help appreciated!!!!

Get some weighted balls to wear. Love honey is a good place to look, search kegal training balls.

You need to get your GP surgery to test for UTI as you could have an infection. Not all the infections are classic symptoms so it would be the first thing we would rule out.

This is me. My pelvic floor has not been the best since my second. But I only use to leak when I would run or do jumps. Now I leak just walking or going into a cold room. I have a doctor's appointment this week because I am not settling for this at only 42. I do pelvic floor exercises but feel I am getting worse

It's age. Happens to me sometimes too.

This happened to me after a bout of whopping cough, similar age. Then got better. Have had the various winter coughs, can cause temporary issues

Thanks for your replies, I’m so confused as I don’t leak when jumping/coughing etc so why am I suddenly leaking once I’ve used the loo?
the kegel balls, does anyone know if I literally just insert them for half an hour and they do their thing or is there a technique to it?

And will losing weight help? I’ve piled it on over the last couple of years not going to lie 🫣

I really recommend seeing a pelvic physio- I saw one years after the birth of my DCs and it was life changing.

Yes! Definitely something to work on 😊

I think you should speak to your GP. People with a weak pelvic floor normally leak if they do jump/ cough etc. You need to find out what is going on.

Yes the weight doesn't help. I've gained a bit recently and while I don't leak I've found now if I have to go I have to go right now!

This can be down to menopause as well as pelvic floor weakness so best to consul your doctor. I spent forever doing pelvic floor exercises to no effect. Local HRT sorted it in a few weeks.

Mine got really bad after I had Covid and such a horrendous cough that I would literally wet myself.
Never been the same since despite kegels and I have to wear pads now (I use washable ones).

Start of vaginal atrophy with peri menopause?

I smugly thought my pelvic floor would remain intact and leakfree as I hadn't had children.

Peri had other ideas.

@Ricecakesaremyjam pelvic floor exercises!! sort of pull your floor in and hold. do this frequently and the muscles will get stronger!

Also when you've finished your wee, lean forward to completely drain the bladder.

You just insert them and wear for a few hours/ all day. Your muscles naturally grip them and get stronger. Providing you rule out any infection/ prolapse or anything they really do the job.

Consult your GP. I was referred to a pelvic physio, and prescribed oestrogen cream. Physio told me that I had an overactive bladder - wasn't drinking enough and was going for a pee too often which made it harder for my bladder to empty completely. Short term measures included peeing, standing up with a bit of poo paper between my legs, jiggling about ab bit and sitting down again to pee out the last bit, drinking a lot more liquid, and trying to wait until peeing was more urgent to increase the volume and oestrogen cream. Longer term I had lots of pelvic floor exercises to work on. Menopause and excess weight can both make it worse.

Losing weight may help but I'm skinny and still get urge incontinence.

After going for a wee wait 30 seconds and then lean forward on the toilet and you will wee that little bit of residue.

Remember too that walking strengthens your bladder muscles
That's why immobile elderly become incontinent.

i am not a HCP op but It can be caused by a number of things; infection, weight gain or prolapse among them. So best to get yourself to a doctor to check those things out. And for a referral on to either a female urogénital/gynaecologist specialist consultant if surgery is required or a pelvic floor physiotherapist if not.

I think there used to be an app on the NHS called Squeezy: I have no idea if it’s effective or not.

I am not UK based but I think some areas of the NHS in England like Bristol or Bath have a self referral service for a pelvic floor physiotherapist, so it might be worth checking in your area. I do t know if that is linked to maternity services or not though?

This info from Oxford University Hospital might be helpful:

www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/74151Pfloor.pdf www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/74151Pfloor.pdf]]]]

Where I live in EU, the doctors start you off with minimum sixteen weeks of pelvic floor exercises guided by a specialist physio.

You definitely don’t want to ignore a leak as it will probably get worse if not treated. Leaks immediately after birth generally do improve naturally but all women should ideally have access to a specialist pelvic floor physiotherapist post-partum and definitely if you develop a leak five years post-birth.

Good luck!

Any bloating or other changes?

Welcome to peri-menopause. You'll have a whole gamut of puzzling symptoms to look forward to, most of which will be dismissed or minimised by your GP.

Firstly I would get checked for an uti. I have had them symptomless bar leaking.

I have had this problem for years, I used to stand up after wiping then sit and wipe again as it would 'loosen' the rest but now I do it 4 times as the issue hasn't improved with any form of intervention.