Bladder Symptoms

Incontinence or leakage of urine is common, effecting up to 50% of adult women. While it is common, it is not normal. Daytime incontinence usually falls into 2 types: stress incontinence (e.g. with a cough, sneeze or exercise), or urge incontinence (you need to go suddenly and can’t get to the toilet in time). Incontinence may also happen during the night, which is called nocturnal enuresis.

Physiotherapy can help with incontinence. This usually includes through assessment of the cause of incontinence and treatment including different methods of pelvic floor strengthening, better load management and other strategies. In some cases of stress incontinence a pessary may also be recommended.

Urinary urgency is the sudden, strong urge to rush to the toilet to empty your bladder. Frequency is the need to go to the toilet more often than you feel is normal. A pelvic floor physio can thoroughly assess your urgency and frequency symptoms and provide comprehensive treatment to help. This may include assessment and modification of fluid intake (if required), bladder retraining, strategies to defer a strong urge, tibial TENS for urgency, pelvic floor strengthening and more.

Sometimes incontinence may not be your concern, rather you may have difficulty emptying your bladder (voiding dysfunction). Sometimes this occurs alone or you may experience both urine leakage and difficulty urinating.

Voiding dysfunction may include a slow flow urine stream, an interrupted stream (stop/ start), hesitancy (difficulty starting) or incomplete emptying. You may experience just one, or multiple symptoms. This can be related to non-relaxing pelvic floor muscles, prolapse, pelvic pain, or other concerns. A pelvic floor physiotherapist can assess your symptoms and give you strategies specific for you to help improve your ability to effectively wee.