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Bladder leakage: how to talk to your doctor

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Overview

It can be tempting to think accidental leaks are part of getting older or being a woman. After all, our bladders can go through a lot in one lifetime. But no matter your age or what your bladder has been through, experts generally agree that leaking isn’t normal and can be treated.

This page is part of our women’s health series, offering simple, practical tips to help you make the most of your medical appointments. This includes advice for:

Ahead, we look at 7 ways to get the most out of your doctor’s appointments, with tips to get past any embarrassment and get some much-needed relief.

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Bladder leakages and bladder health

According to Jean Hailes pelvic floor physiotherapist Amy Steventon, many women don’t seek help for bladder leakage because they think it’s no big deal and it’ll improve on its own. Did you know that:

  • Bladder leakage is another name for urinary incontinence.
  • It affects 38% of women in Australia, compared to 10% of men.
  • After childbirth, around one in 3 women experience bladder leakage.
  • Bladder issues are also common around pregnancy and menopause when women don’t have much time to make their health a priority, she adds.

Ms Steventon says that without the right treatment, “it will potentially get worse”. So if you’re experiencing any leakage, the key is not to ignore it.

When to go to the doctor

“Having the confidence to talk about bladder problems is a major issue,” according to urogynaecologist Dr Payam Nikpoor. A few things that can make a big difference:

  • find a GP you feel comfortable with
  • give yourself time to build trust with your health professional
  • take a support person with you to your appointments, he adds.

Bladder incontinence

Explore topic

Doctors appointments for bladder leakages

Injections to create a temporary menopause are key treatments for a wide range of conditions.

The injections are called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue injections. They stop your ovaries making the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and stop your menstrual cycle.

You may be prescribed GnRH injections to help manage symptoms of:

  • endometriosis
  • adenomyosis
  • uterine fibroids
  • heavy periods
  • pelvic pain
  • premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

When you go to the doctor – Easy read

Easy Read fact sheets are about what happens when you go to the doctor, including tips on what you can do before, during and after your appointment.

Get the right advice

If you’re not getting what you want out of your appointments, Dr Nikpoor recommends seeing another doctor or health practitioner, ideally someone with an interest or further training in bladder issues.

For help finding a specialist, you can use the continence service provider directory from the Continence Foundation of Australia.

To find a pelvic floor physiotherapist, visit the find a physio tool from the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Under ‘Refine your search’, select ‘Special interest area: Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic health’.

More on bladder health

The Continence Foundation of Australia https://www.continence.org.au/types-incontinence/urinary-incontinence
Pelvic Floor First https://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/
International Urogynecological Association: Your Pelvic Floor https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/

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