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!!!!

Urinary incontinence isn't just caused by childbirth. It is often caused by dropping estrogen. You are possibly entering perimenopause.

There are different types of incontinence
Stress: jumping/coughing etc
Urge: where you can not wait once the need arises
Incomplete voiding: what you describe

With incomplete voiding it can help to complete your wee, stand up for 10 seconds then sit back down and wee again. And wear a little liner

And yes excess weight can exacerbate things

@Dotto

No I hate those fucking adverts. Leakage is not normal or something to simply put up with, whilst the manufacturers of 'pee pants' happily rake it in.
It's normal in the sense that millions of women suffer from it and working to resolve it isn't instant so pads/pants are required. Additionally some women will not be able to fully resolve the problem depending on the cause so again, incontinence pads/pads are required for them

Common doesn't equal normal.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be sold, but the adverts make it sound like something we should just accept.

Is there a warning on screen to prompt that urinary incontinence is not normal and to consult your GP?

Do you do your pelvic floor exercises daily? I do them at traffic lights. Helps me remember.

Peri menopause can be a trigger too

www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/urinary-incontinence-in-menopause-are-you-ignoring-the-symptoms/

I'm in peri menopause and have suddenly developed urge and stress incontinence which I didn't have before.

In your case it sounds like your bladder muscles aren't emptying properly. But the cause needs to be found.

Thanks so much guys for your replies.
Other than peri, is there any obvious reason why my bladder muscles would have stopped working properly?
I don’t know if I am in peri…..my periods are regular to the day? Thankyou again so much for your replies x

This can happen if your bladder hasn't fully emptied. Sometimes a weakening pelvic floor (age and weight gain can add to this) will retain a few tbsp of wee.

Have you checked if you have a UTI? If it is in your bladder/ higher up, you may not get the stinging sensation common with lower UTIs.

As others have said, rule out medical causes first.

Definitely invest in Knix or other "period underwear" as this will prevent smell from leaking.

I am 44, and had this. I had surgery last year to repair prolapse and mesh put around my bladder to provide more support. Best thing I ever did.

I'm in peri and my periods are regular. I was having lots of symptoms so went to the Dr who did blood tests to rule out other things and said if they were normal (they were) then welcome to peri!

I have exactly what you describe so will have to try some of PP's suggestions

I'm 39 if it helps 😊

I'm in my 60s and have noticed this over the last couple of years. It's not menopause related as I had my last period when I was 45. But I have gone back on estriol (after a long period without it) as have general bladder irritability and discomfort especially at night.

Be careful about doing too many PFE, I assumed the problem was that I was not doing enough, so upped the amount I was doing a day and now I have a very tight pelvic floor which I suspect is not helping!

when people mention possible medical causes for the bladder not emptying what sort of thing do they mean?

Irritation, obstruction, laxity for example, would need to be examined.

You've maybe not fully emptied your bladder. I once read an incontinence leaflet for women where one of the treatments was to wear something like a tampon - it stops the urgency. So I am thinking if your bowed is full it might stop you emptying your bladder fully just because of where everything can sit internally.

So don't worry. Just go again after initially going. I'm like this in the morning after a full night of lying down. I think my organs shift a bit in the lying down position. So just pause and try again.

i was wearing tema pads daily, and saw a pelvic physio to no effect.
I went on HRT and lost weight due to other issues and the stress and urge incontinence has completely improved. No need for the pads anymore!