The joys of long sunny days and summer holidays means playing with the kids and grandchildren in the garden. Running around after them, bouncing on the trampoline….If the picture above has you making excuses for not getting on the tramp, you are not alone!
Stress Urinary Incontinence: Why Laughing, Sneezing & Star Jumps Might Betray You
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary leakage of urine when there's a sudden increase in pressure in your abdomen. You know the moment—you're laughing a little too hard, sneezing unexpectedly, or confidently attempting star jumps, and... uh-oh. Even yelling at the kids, your partner, or the dog can result in an unfortunate trickle.
If this sounds familiar, you're not alone—far from it. According to Continence NZ, a whopping 1.1 million New Zealanders suffer from urinary incontinence. Even more shockingly, 1 in 3 women who have ever had a baby will experience some form of leakage. That’s a lot of unwanted surprises!
But here’s the kicker: Two-thirds of women experiencing leakage don’t seek help. Why? Because society has normalised it—especially after childbirth. And if you believe those TV ads, all you need is a liner for “LBL” (light bladder leakage), and your life is magically fixed. Well... no!
Common? Yes. Normal? Absolutely Not.
Bladder control problems are common, but they are NOT normal. The good news? Women can become dry or experience significant improvement with the right treatment—physiotherapy included.
Why Does This Happen?
There’s a lot of misconception about who gets SUI and why. It’s all about risk factors. The more you have, the higher your chances.
The Biggest Risk Factor: GENETICS
If your mum or older sister has SUI, you’re 1.3 times more likely to have it too. Thanks, genes! We think it’s linked to connective tissue makeup.
SUI can even start in childhood and is super common among athletes in high-impact sports. The sport itself doesn’t cause SUI—it just reveals who might be at risk later. Other big contributors include pregnancy, labour, chronic coughing, constipation and increased BMI. But here’s the thing: not everyone with these risk factors will develop SUI.
What’s Actually Going On?
The reason behind your leakage plays a big role in choosing the right treatment. We now know SUI can be caused by:
Weakness in the pelvic floor muscles or urethra (wee tube)
Damage to the connective tissue supporting the bladder and urethra
Changes in connective tissue stiffness due to hormonal shifts (which is why symptoms can appear at different times of the month or during menopause—by the way, perimenopause starts around 35 and lasts until about 65!)
Some more complex reasons... but that’s where physios like me come in to figure it out!
How Do You Know If You’re at Risk?
If you’re experiencing symptoms, or even if you’re not but have multiple risk factors, the best way to assess your situation is with an expert physiotherapist. I take a detailed history and perform an advanced pelvic floor exam to determine why you have SUI and what treatment will work best for you.
Does Physiotherapy Actually Work?
Absolutely! Here’s what the evidence says:
Physiotherapy can cure up to 50% of women with SUI.
A tailored pelvic floor exercise programme can significantly improve symptoms in up to 80% of women.
Not all SUI cases are the same—so knowing whether pelvic floor exercises will actually help your specific type is key. (Exciting news: I’m training in ultrasound to better determine who will benefit most from physio!)
Other Treatment Options
Vaginal oestrogen can make a big difference.
Vaginal pessaries can provide support and reduce leakage.
Surgery? Maybe, but it depends on many factors. I can walk you through the latest evidence-based options to see what’s right for you.
You Don’t Have to Just Put Up With It!
Ignoring SUI or relying on pads isn’t your only option. Sometimes, improving symptoms is as simple as learning to breathe better, contract or relax your pelvic floor, or modify how you exercise. Physiotherapy can help with all of this—plus, post-surgical rehab for bladder procedures is just as important as it is for knees or shoulders!
So if you’re sick of crossing your legs when you sneeze or missing out on activities you love, let’s change that. There are real solutions, and I can help. Let’s get you dry and confident again!