Incontinence when running

[Annoyedandirritated]

Does anyone have any recommendations of what to use? . I have been wearing tenna lady pads but they are so bulky and look like I’m wearing a nappy under my running trousers!

I’m training for a 10k and have really bad stress incontinence

If a tampon/ moon up helps, it’s possible that you have a prolapse. I have one, it’s relatively slight. I run a lot. After the birth of my last child (currently pregnant again) I went to a women’s health physio who worked wonders, but I did wear a pessory for runs to help support the prolapse.

I was very hesitant at first as I was sad that it was needed but I eventually came round to the idea and it worked!

Really you need to try and treat the cause, not the symptoms. And sessions with a good physio are invaluable to ascertain why you are leaking in the first place.

Holy hell, tampons and moon cups! The buggers fall out when I run

I use Tena but just ordered the period pants. Great advice.

I ended up having an operation, but before that, yes, I used a Mooncup and it made all the difference. It had a habit of sometimes slipping down on longer runs (I was marathon training, so over 12 miles or so), so I'd use a tampon for those. As long as I put it in when I started my run and took it out right after, I don't think it did me any harm but I'd never heard that it could do before this thread, so not looked into it.

@cavalatete

https://www.gussetgrippers.co.uk/experience

There are some exercises here on this website to tide you over while on a waiting list. Elaine Miller used to be a mumsnetter (maybe still is?) called gussiegrips or something similar. She's also had a comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe about this topic. Probably on YouTube. She's very funny and knows her business.

I'd say that if there are long waiting lists then it's an idea to get on them and then follow online exercises, rather then do online and then if don't work go on the waiting list. They are quite specific and as we often aren't actually using the muscles correctly/efficiently in the first place, we can think we're doing the exercises correctly, but actually aren't! Better to try than not, but going to the specialist physio is invaluable.

Worth noting that women in France get specialist pelvic floor physiotherapy after giving birth. Every woman. Then once their pelvic floor is working properly they get abdominal physiotherapy. We have to wet ourselves and then go on a waiting list. One of those systems seems better than the other.

Thanks- I follow her on Instagram, she's great. Will check out her website. Totally agree with your other comments too!

I used an electric pelvic toner for urge incontinence. It took around two weeks to see slight improvement, two months before big improvement. I now use the tone program a couple of times a week. The device I bought has program settings for urge, stress and mixed, and tone.

@willowbough can I ask which one you use please?

@Luckystar1

It's the Tenscare I touch 4. I debated trying it for ages, and thought I'd give it a go before going to the GP.

www.amazon.co.uk/TensCare-Exerciser-Treatment-Bladder-Incontinence/dp/B001S2LGH0

I use a superplus tampon when running, to avoid this problem. It's only in for a couple of hours at most, so unlikely to cause health issues. I don't leak every run, just at certain times in my cycle.

How old are you? This is a bit random but I struggled massively with incontinence whilst running - to the point where I stopped running and started cycling instead. I noticed that I was always worse after ovulation and leading up to my period so I thought it might be something hormonal. I started HRT about 4 months ago and one of the (many!) benefits I’ve noticed is that my incontinence has disappeared, and it happened within a couple of weeks of starting the medication. I can run, jump, sneeze, cough and there’s no leakage anymore (and previous to this I had some kind of leak experience most days 😬). I’m 43 and I started having incontinence issues when I was about 36. I’m wondering if some incontinence is related to falling oestrogen levels - but I’ve not researched it or heard anyone say the same so who knows, maybe I’m just a freak 🤷‍♀️

Ah I’ve just seen your post @moggerhanger - maybe there is something in it being related to hormones! Do you find it worse in the week before your period too?

My incontinence was mainly just before my period, during and after, but I have endometriosis on my bladder. It improved with pelvic floor toning, which I probably shouldn't have neglected for so long in any case.

@NutsaremyNemesis

How old are you? This is a bit random but I struggled massively with incontinence whilst running - to the point where I stopped running and started cycling instead. I noticed that I was always worse after ovulation and leading up to my period so I thought it might be something hormonal. I started HRT about 4 months ago and one of the (many!) benefits I’ve noticed is that my incontinence has disappeared, and it happened within a couple of weeks of starting the medication. I can run, jump, sneeze, cough and there’s no leakage anymore (and previous to this I had some kind of leak experience most days 😬). I’m 43 and I started having incontinence issues when I was about 36. I’m wondering if some incontinence is related to falling oestrogen levels - but I’ve not researched it or heard anyone say the same so who knows, maybe I’m just a freak 🤷‍♀️

This is definitely a thing. I remember reading about it on the Louise Newson (menopause doctor) website.

The main thing that helped me was not drinking anything for two hours before I run. It made a big difference.

@NutsaremyNemesis I don't actually have periods (thank you Mirena!) so couldn't actually say, sorry! But all this has reminded me to do my exercises. (The third sneeze is never welcome, shall we say. I blame a failed ventouse and then forceps birth for DS.)

I’m 43.

So I tried the period pants from Amazon that arrived today! They are actually really good! No leaking at all!

I am going to make a GP appointment too

Scrap that last post. Did another run tonight and the leakage was ridiculous . I’m going to have to start wearing black, and back to the bulky tenna ladies

Wear black and wear shorts over your leggings so no pad outline.
Hydrate well throughout the day but not in the hour immediately prior to your run.

Running is actually not the best sport if you have a shit pelvic floor but well done on doing a 10k

I have ordered a pair of very expensive modibodi knickers! If they fail, I’m just going to have to go back to bulky Tena ladies and black trousers

I also recommend the TensCare Itouch pelvic floor toner. It completely cured my stress incontinence after 3 births.

I'm a bit shocked that some women above don't seem to know that menstrual blood and urine come out of different holes.

Look into vaginal lasering/rejuvanation. it sounds horrific but it only takes 15 minutes, is painless and the results are transformative

I wear modibody heavy flow period pants, they have leggings too though

What makes you think they don't? @KeepingTheWormsQuiet

It's not about absorbing urine.

Just to update, I did my 10k and used Modibodi and they were fab! So worth the extra money in the end

Well done!

For anyone else looking for a solution these work on the same principle as a mooncup or tampon: www.stressnomore.co.uk/contiform-vaginal-pessary-82820.html

You can get them on prescription.