What is stress urinary incontinence?
Stress urinary incontinence is involuntary urine leakage during effort, exertion, coughing or sneezing. The word stress refers to physical pressure on the bladder—not emotional stress.
Normally, the pelvic floor, bladder neck and urethral closure mechanism work together to keep urine in the bladder. Leakage may occur when urethral support is reduced, the closing mechanism is weak, or both are affected.
SUI is common after pregnancy and childbirth and may become more noticeable with ageing, menopause, weight gain, chronic cough, constipation or high-impact activity. It is treatable, but the correct treatment depends on the exact type of leakage and how much it affects daily life.
SUI may be worth evaluating when you notice:
- Leakage while coughing, sneezing or laughing
- Leakage during running, jumping, gym exercise or lifting
- Leakage when getting up, bending or changing position
- A need for pads or activity avoidance because of fear of leakage
- Persistent postpartum leakage that is not improving
- Mixed symptoms such as both exertional leakage and strong urgency




