What kinds of urinary changes can women experience?
Bladder and urinary symptoms can take different forms. Some women notice that they need to urinate more frequently, experience a sudden strong urge to go, wake during the night to use the toilet, or leak urine during everyday activities.
Urine leakage may occur when coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting or exercising. Other people experience urgency — a sudden need to urinate that can be difficult to delay.
Some women experience a combination of these symptoms. Healthcare professionals often describe these patterns as stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence or mixed incontinence.
Why can bladder symptoms happen?
There is no single cause of urinary or bladder symptoms. Factors that may contribute include pregnancy and childbirth, pelvic-floor changes, menopause, ageing, urinary tract infections, constipation, certain medicines and some underlying health conditions.
Diabetes, neurological conditions and conditions affecting the pelvic floor can also influence bladder control.
Because different problems can produce similar symptoms, persistent urinary changes should not be self-diagnosed.
Are urinary changes simply part of getting older?
Bladder-control problems become more common with age, but they should not automatically be dismissed as an unavoidable part of ageing.
Pregnancy, childbirth and menopause can affect the pelvic floor and urinary tract, and age-related changes can influence bladder function. However, symptoms can also have treatable causes.
If urinary symptoms interfere with sleep, exercise, work, travel, relationships or everyday confidence, professional assessment may help identify the cause and available options.
Common patterns worth noticing
Urinating more frequently
A noticeable increase in how often you need to urinate can have several explanations. Fluid intake, caffeine, medicines, urinary tract infections and some health conditions may all influence urinary frequency.
Sudden urgency
Urgency is a strong, sudden need to urinate that can be difficult to postpone. Some people may also experience leakage before reaching a toilet.
Leakage during coughing, laughing or exercise
Leakage triggered by coughing, sneezing, laughing, running, lifting or other physical activity can be associated with stress urinary incontinence and pelvic-floor weakness.
Waking at night to urinate
Needing to get up during the night can have several causes. Persistent nighttime urination deserves discussion with a healthcare professional, particularly when it disrupts sleep or occurs alongside other urinary symptoms.
Everyday factors that may influence bladder wellbeing
Everyday habits can influence urinary symptoms in some people. Factors worth considering include:
- how much and when you drink;
- caffeine and alcohol intake;
- constipation;
- physical activity;
- smoking;
- body weight;
- certain medicines;
- pelvic-floor health.
This does not mean people should severely restrict fluids or stop prescribed medication themselves. Changes to medicines or significant changes to fluid intake should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Keeping a bladder diary
A simple bladder diary can help identify patterns before a healthcare appointment.
You may record:
- what and how much you drink;
- when you urinate;
- episodes of urgency;
- episodes of leakage;
- what you were doing when leakage occurred;
- nighttime toilet visits.
A healthcare professional may use this information alongside your medical history, examination and, where appropriate, urine or other tests to help understand the cause of your symptoms.
When should you seek professional advice?
Speak with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional if you experience ongoing urinary frequency, urgency, leakage, difficulty passing urine, pelvic discomfort or other symptoms that concern you.
Prompt medical assessment is particularly important if you:
- cannot pass urine or empty your bladder;
- see blood in your urine;
- have painful urination;
- have symptoms suggesting a urinary infection;
- develop significant pelvic pain;
- experience rapidly worsening or severe symptoms.
Use the urgent or emergency healthcare service appropriate to the country where you live.
Where do supplements fit?
Supplements should not be used as a substitute for assessment of persistent urinary symptoms.
If you are considering a women's urinary or bladder wellbeing supplement, review the current ingredient list, dosage instructions, warnings and supplier information.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have an existing medical condition should seek professional advice before using dietary supplements where appropriate.
Exploring women's urinary wellbeing products?
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View FemiCore product informationSources & further information
- US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): Symptoms & causes of bladder control problems
- NIDDK: Diagnosis of bladder control problems
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Urinary incontinence
- NHS (UK): Urinary incontinence
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