Stress vs urge: Identify your type of incontinence

Are you planning your day around bathroom breaks, skipping workouts, or holding back laughter – just in case? Bladder leaks are surprisingly common, but they’re not something you have to live with. This World Continence Week, we’re here to remind you that with the right pelvic health support, you can regain confidence and reclaim your freedom from leaks.

Let’s play bladder bingo

☐ Leaking when you laugh, cough, or sneeze
☐ Avoiding anything bouncy or brisk for fear of leaks
☐ Rushing to the toilet and not always making it
☐ Peeing “just in case” before leaving the house
☐ Feeling like your bladder controls your day
☐ Wearing pads or carrying spare underwear
☐ Swerving social events or exercise to avoid leaks
If you’re ticking any of these – you’re not alone and it might be time to talk to your GP.  Bladder leaks are common and can affect people for a variety of reasons. With the right treatment plan, you could reduce your symptoms and even eliminate them completely.1

Track your experiences

Start by keeping a simple diary of your fluid intake and bathroom visits – this will help you spot patterns and give your GP a clearer picture of what’s going on. In the meantime, let’s dive into the two most common types of urinary incontinence.

The Pressure Leaker: Stress incontinence

What is it?
Leaks happen when everyday actions – like coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting – put pressure on your bladder and your pelvic floor muscles can’t hold back the urine.

Why is it happening?

The pelvic floor acts like a supportive sling. When it becomes weakened, it can’t handle the pressure and leaks slip through. It often shows up during movement or physical exertion, making it especially frustrating if you love to exercise.

What may be causing it?

• Pregnancy and vaginal childbirth – can weaken or damage pelvic floor muscles
• Menopause – lower oestrogen levels reduce tissue strength and support
• Prostate surgery – may weaken the muscles and nerves that control urine flow
• Obesity – increases pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor
• Chronic coughing or constipation – repeatedly strains pelvic muscles2

  The Bladder Boss: Urge incontinenceWhat is it?
  It feels like your bladder has a mind of its own. You experience a sudden, intense need to pee during the day or night – and that urgency sometimes means not making it to the toilet in time.

  Why is it happening?
  It could be an “overactive bladder”, where your muscles contract too often, even when your bladder isn’t full. Or, it could be your pelvic floor muscles misfiring – either staying too tight when they should relax or failing to coordinate properly.
  What may be causing it?

• Nerve damage – Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke or spinal cord injuries can disrupt signals between your brain and bladder
• Bladder irritation – Urinary tract infections, bladder stones or certain foods and drinks
• Menopause – lower oestrogen levels reduce the strength and elasticity of pelvic tissues, affecting bladder support
• Enlarged prostate or prostate surgery – in men, these can affect bladder control
• Living with obesity – extra weight puts pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor
• Diabetes – can damage the nerves that control the bladder, leading to poor bladder coordination3

The Double Agent: Mixed incontinence
Sometimes, leaks don’t follow just one pattern. Living with mixed incontinence means you’re dealing with both pressure-triggered leaks and sudden urges.4 It can feel confusing and unpredictable. There are other types of incontinence too, and the best way to understand what’s going on – and how to treat it – is to speak with your GP or a pelvic health specialist who can help you get the right diagnosis and support.

Take back control with Empelvic  
Whether you're dealing with stress, urge, or mixed incontinence, the Empelvic cushion offers a holistic solution to pelvic floor health. Its unique design supports muscle strengthening and relaxation, helping you address the full spectrum of bladder control challenges.
For stress incontinence, Empelvic exercises help you to locate your pelvic floor and build strength. For urge incontinence, the cushion can support gentle muscle release and relaxation. This can help calm the bladder’s urgency signals and restore better coordination between your brain and pelvic floor.

Alice’s story  
“Empelvic has helped [me] locate my pelvic floor muscles. The concentration and the exercises have definitely helped with sneezing. Sneezing's pretty much dry now which is great!”
With tools like the Empelvic cushion and guidance from a pelvic health professional, you can start making real changes today that restore your confidence and help you live a leak-free life. This World Continence Week, let this be your reminder: you’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. You’ve got options – and it’s never too late to take the first step. Link up with us on Facebook and Instagram for more helpful tips and pelvic health hacks.

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Stress incontinence: Diagnosis and treatment. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stress-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355732 [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025]
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Stress incontinence: Symptoms and causes. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stress-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20355727 [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025].
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Urge Incontinence. [online] Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22161-urge-incontinence [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025].
National Association for Continence (NAFC). (n.d.). Mixed Incontinence. [online] Available at: https://nafc.org/mixed-incontinence/ [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025].