Do lots of women have leaky bladders?

I don't know figures but there are a lot of women with some bladder issues, commonly caused by childbirth and worsened by age. I didn't realise this until it happened to me. Lifestyle changes, surgery, medication all help but do not necessarily completely cure. For most people "Tena Lady" thin pads are enough.

nahsma, I can't help thinking that the makers of 'bladder leak' pads and underwear are trying to normalise a medical issue.

After all, we spend a small fortune on sanitary protection - then following menopause, they 'lose' a customer.

If I had problems with bladder control, I'd be straight off to the doctors, not accepting it as a normal part of ageing!

More than twenty years ago after three big babies and I suffered more and more from back pain. The culprit was my womb moving about. I had an operation to have it lifted and attached more firmly. The back pain was cured and I did notice a difference after the intervention in that I didn’t have to cross my legs when I laughed.

I didn’t notice it after child birth probably too busy. But after being sterilised and quite a few ops in that department most definitely I just wear light pads.
I am not embarrassed about it I did attend the women’s hospital for consultations but I would prefer to have no more surgery if possible.
Sometimes it’s more of a nuisance than others but I just learnt to live with it.

I hate all this advertising. It's almost suggesting it's a female only problem when clearly it isn't

There are many women with this problem, I myself recently started a thread. Sometimes there's nothing that can be done and it depends what causes it as there are many reasons for it. It is not something to be mocked and no - there is not a need for adult nappies!

Go to your GP and discuss it with him or her because there is medication around which will help.

Lots of us have bladder problems despite regular pelvic floor exercises, a healthy lifestyle (including never having been overweight), and having sought medical advice on numerous occasions over the years.
Mine, which started after the birth of my second child, definitely worsened after the menopause.

A weakened pelvic floor due to childbirth commonly leads to issues such as stress incontinence. (Leakage when you cough sneeze or laugh.) This often kicks in after menopause.
Physio is the most successful method of correcting the problem and the NHS employs physiotherapists and specialist nurses in bladder health.
It is certainly not a condition to simply put up with. If you leak even a drop see your doctor.

I find the ads really distasteful. I’ve got nothing against the pads and if you need them from time to time all well and good but if it’s a problem the condition can usually be helped by physiotherapist. I practice pelvic floor exercises fairly regularly and at 69 don’t have a problem although one DD did have some difficulties after childbirth.

The GP should be the first contact not to ignore it and treat it as something generally suffered by older women.

What I find annoying is the suggestion that it’s an easy problem to solve - “just see your GP and do pelvic floor exercises”. I think the fact there are so many products advertised now is because the problem is not so easy to solve!

When I started having problems with stress incontinence about 20 years ago, I went to GP and was referred to physiotherapist. After some sessions, there seemed to be a slight improvement but every time I got a cold, and coughed a lot, my bladder got weaker again. Back to GP, referred to specialist, had lots of tests. Medication discussed, but told it had lots of nasty side effects. Surgery is apparently not a magic cure either - can work for some. I opted for more physio and an electronic gadget to help. Still not a complete cure so I’m resigned to wearing light pads (and thicker ones if I get a cold).

My first stroke left me with a leaky bladder and no it's not as simple as a trip to the doctors. The two subsequent strokes did nothing to improve matters but it has gradually improved somewhat so that I can deal with it. I can't say I ever thought 'oooh, that might happen to me, I should buy some *

I had a hysterectomy in 1995 aged 43 and then began to suffer with a leaky bladder when I coughed or laughed. It was a nightmare so went to my gp and ended up having the vaginal tape. I should have refused it knowing what I know now because I have suffered many bladder infections since although I seem to be free of them at the moment. The big problem I have is that I have to go to the loo every 3 to 4 hours even through the night despite how much or little I drink. I've had scans and a camera but they can't find anything wrong. I still find I can get desperate and leak if I wait too long. It's embarassing when we go to stay at someones house. I sympathise with anyone with bladder problems.

Unfortunately in this Country the importance of doing pelvic floor exercises is mostly ignored.

Everyone should do them regularly,it is never to young to start.

I was a midwife and had three babies,I am in my 70’s and have no problem at all with my bladder.I still do pelvic floor exercises daily.

When I first started to 'leak' I did seek GP advice - over next few years I twice underwent in-hospital stays whilst they did procedures to correct the problem. Neither time did it make a great deal of difference.

Yes, I always have done pelvic floor exercises, but have for some years now used over-the-counter supermrket pads each day. These give me a little more 'support' and a feeling of reassurance.

Only need these at night if I am not well (ie having a cold/cough) -

I had a hysterectomy just over 30yrs ago due to ovarian cancer and afterwards suffered from bladder leakage for a long time even though I had always done pelvic floor exercises after the birth of my children and kept them up.
I had to always be aware of the nearest toilet if I was out and about and constantly use tena type pads.
About 8 yrs ago I was seen by a specialist urologist and started on botox injections to the bladder which has turned my life around I go every 12 months for a top up the problem is still there but very slight showing more when the 12 month top up is due.

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My 60 year old friend suffers terribly. She's been to the GP countless times and has been referred but there's seemingly no remedy.

About 8 yrs ago I was seen by a specialist urologist and started on botox injections to the bladder which has turned my life around I go every 12 months for a top up the problem is still there but very slight showing more when the 12 month top up is due.

That's so interesting, glammanana. My friend has enquired about this botox treatment which has been mentioned in the media recently and was just told that this isn't something regularly done and her GP actually told her not to Google it!

Judging by the number of adverts on TV for sanitary pads it must be a very profitable business, when we need them, we need them, for whatever reason.
I really don’t think we are any more “leaky” than older men!.

My DH is awaiting a prostrate op he leaks a lot. It’s not that easy getting pads for men as not all the shops sell them. We do get them but it’s almost as if it’s rare for men but it’s most certainly not.

Redhead56

My DH is awaiting a prostrate op he leaks a lot. It’s not that easy getting pads for men as not all the shops sell them. We do get them but it’s almost as if it’s rare for men but it’s most certainly not.

Lloyds Pharmacies have the Men Pads....have bladder prolapse at moment ..very debilitating problem...having to go private for treatment which I can't really afford but can't return to work in this state...

I spent 20 years always being aware of the nearest toilet. I had stress incontinence.. When out I’d never pass a (clean) toilet. GP referred me to the incontinence clinic which wasn’t a lot of help.

During this time I also had a rectocele which was left alone as it wasn’t causing any trouble. More recently I began to be mor aware of the rectocele and went to my lovely new young GP. She examined me internally and felt I should try a ring Pessary for the rectocele. What a difference. I was no longer aware of the rectocele.
Over the following few weeks I noticed I was no longer leaking. Also I didn’t need the toilet so often. It’s now about 3 months since I got fitted with the Pessary and still no leaking. I believe the rectocele must have been pressing on my bladder and the Pessary lifted the rectocele Into a better position.
All those years and no doctor had considered this for the leaking. I now only wear a thin Tenna when I go out for the day but that’s more out of habit and I don’t really need.it.

Thanks for the tip Bea65 will go to our nearest Lloyds pharmacy next time DH needs them.

I found giving up caffeine in coffee and tea (because of high blood pressure) completely cured the problem.