Peeing when sneezing.

[ThatGingerOne]

Does anyone else have a problem with peeing themselves (ranging from a tiny bit to a huge amount) when they laugh, cough or sneeze? Mainly sneezing and coughing are the problem and have been since I was about 15/16, I'm 20 now. No kids. I just got used to crossing my legs whenever I did those things but sometimes its so much I still pee.

Anyone else have this and how did you get it sorted out?

It's called stress incontinence and like you I've had it for as long as I can remember despite never having children. If you go to your GP they will refer you to a physiotherapist who can help. Sadly in my case there is nothing further they can do until after I've had children when I will probably need an operation on my muscles but good pelvic floor exercises will probably be all you need. Please go to your GP, it might seem embarrassing but they should take you seriously and try to help.

two words:

pelvic floor

look up kegel or pelvic floor exercises and start squeezing!

Dw had this after our first child was born. As pp have said lots of pelvic floor exercises massively helped. It does still happen to her but very rarely now.

Thanks, for replying :)

I always heard about other people sneezing and laughing a bit when I was younger but they were always older and always had multiple children while I was (and still am) a virgin with no kids. My DM thinks its because when I was a kid I used to hold in a wee until the very last second all of the time.

Get it checked out now, it's not uncommon but something rarely openly discussed. It will get progressively worse as you get older, after children and go through the menopause !

Definitely stress incontinence - need to go to a GP or a women's health physio who can recommend pelvic floor exercises or something. I have heard some people's pelvic floors are too tight and therefore they leak, so please don't launch into kegels with no medical advice. And yes, holding your wee in for hours is really bad for your pelvic floor muscles!

Still, it's shit to live with bladder weakness (from experience) so have some and HTH. I wear DiaryDolls to minimise embarrassment. At least gives me some time to get to a loo and sort myself out without having to wear an adult nappy.

This is a timely thread - I almost started one, but felt too shy. In the last week (just since Tuesday) I have felt that I am occasionally "leaking" wee, and also desperate to go to the loo all the time, even if I've just been. In terms of the leakage, it's not when I cough/laugh/exert myself, and it's literally just a couple of drops, but I'm worried sick about it. When I go to the loo, it's not a massive amount, so it's not like I'm desperate and a bit comes out. I'm 43, no kids, and in generally good health (no diabetes, not overweight) but wondered if this was some sort of kidney infection or something? It seems really odd that it's just started out of nowhere.

Thanks guys, will book in with the GP for sure. I have a cold this week so lots of coughing/sneezing so this is why I brought it up now. I also do the thing where I go for a wee, stand up and then immediately feel like I have to pee again and get a few drops out.

Today was awful, sneezing and peeing a little each time. Sometimes (thankfully when I'm home) its a large amount. Going to keep a log of how much I'm drinking and peeing then take that to the GP with me x

Yes, i'm another who put up with stress incontinence for years. I have pelvic organ prolapse too due to lax ligaments so no amount of pelvic floor exercises will help in my case. I was referred to specialist and had TVT surgery which supports the urethra and has cured me 99%. I have some urge incontinence too so only leak a little now if i put off going when I need to go! I no longer wee when I cough or sneeze or sometimes doing nothing. It's transformed my quality of life. I'm in my 40s & wish I had it done years ago.

coconuttyoil can you do star jumps I would love to do them without leakage!

I could but with pelvic prolapse need to avoid high impact exercise! But don't leak with any day to day stuff now. I'm planning to get surgery to fix it next year and hope to be able to start horse riding if I get the OK from the surgeon.

That's brilliant coconuttyoil

knaffedoff have you seen your GP or been referred to hospital? You don't have to put up with leakage. I used to have to wear panty liners every day and cross my legs, squeeze and hope every time i sneezed hoping I could prevent it or at least lessen the amount of leakage. When I had a cold it was truly awful. My life has been transformed and I never even knew surgery was an option. No need for panty liners anymore.

My mum has had this since having my sister 28 years ago and had an operation a couple of years ago to lift the bladder with tape. It didn't really work. I have also developed it and am reluctant to see my GP given my mums experience. I am currently embracing the Tena Lady.

Try the NHS Squeezy app, it's made a significant difference for me quite quickly

There's a lot you can do with appropriate exercise (not just kegels) and posture. Have a look at the physio called Katy something-or-other who does biomechanics (the DVD is called Down There iirc) or Hab-it, which is also v physio focussed, or Saving the Whole Woman (which is a bit bonkers and has a few ghastly usa horror stories) but has stuff on posture & exercise, as well as good info on the actual anatomy of our bodies. Good luck, and stop tucking your bottom in!

Thanks cocunuttyoil yes I was referred to physios a couple of years ago and they just said there had been much damage caused through childbirth and much of it was irreversible despite this I have returned to my gp a couple of months ago and I am now with the incontinence nurse. I have gone caffeine free, that has made a massive difference but I still dare not do a star jump