Some of the most common conditions I see in the clinic are Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and Urgency Urinary Incontinence (UUI). While both involve bladder leakage, the causes and treatment approaches can be quite different. Understanding the difference is often the first step in helping people feel confident to seek help.
What is Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)?
Stress urinary incontinence occurs when there’s leakage of urine during activities that increase pressure inside the abdomen. These activities might include:
- Coughing, sneezing, or laughing
- Exercising (especially running, jumping, or lifting weights)
- Lifting or carrying children or heavy objects
This happens because the pelvic floor muscles and supporting structures (e.g. fascia) are not able to provide enough closure support to the urethra when the pressure in the abdominals rises.
What is Urgency Urinary Incontinence (UUI)?
Urgency urinary incontinence is leakage that happens alongside a sudden, strong urge to pass urine. The kind where you feel like you just can’t make it to the toilet in time.
UUI is usually related to detrusor overactivity or urethral relaxation.
