- You may experience urine leaking due to increased pressure on the bladder. This can be for example when you cough, sneeze, laugh, move or lift something (stress incontinence). This may be made worse if you are overweight.
- You may experience a strong desire to go to the toilet, not necessarily with a full bladder. For example this feeling may come on with turning on the tap, putting the key in the door or when seeing the toilet. You may experience this when you change position. You may also pass urine during sex, particularly when you reach orgasm. You may be unable to delay going to the toilet. Urine may leak following the strong desire to reach the toilet and may lead to ‘not making it on time’ (urge incontinence). You may visit the toilet frequently during the day and possibly at night, only passing small amounts of urine each time.
- You may feel that you are not completely emptying your bladder when you pass urine. You may experience leakage that you cannot control and possibly wake up wet in the morning. You may experience frequent urinary tract infections (Overflow incontinence).
- You may feel that you lack control in passing urine at all and leak large volumes all the time and maybe smaller amounts in between, including during the night (total incontinence).
- You may feel that you have problems with passing urine, such as only being able to pass a slow stream of urine, needing to strain in order to pass urine, or stopping and starting as you pass urine. You may experience an urge to pass urine but not be able to go when you get to the toilet or it may take a long time to be able to empty your bladder.
- You may feel that you have problems after you have passed urine, such as feeling that you have not completely emptied your bladder or that you pass a few drops of urine after you think you've finished.
- You may not be able to move as you would like to and have restricted mobility. This may mean that you find it difficult to make it to the toilet on time, or you can’t get undressed quickly enough to get to the toilet without leaking.
You should seek advice from your GP and discuss your symptoms if you experience any of the following:
- If you see blood in your urine (and this is not due to having your period). You may notice streaks of blood in your urine or the blood may turn your urine brown. The blood may not always noticeable. Even if this comes and goes, you should visit your GP, to discuss your symptoms.
- A need to pass urine more frequently than is usual for you.
- Sudden urges to pass urine when this is not usual for you.
- Having a burning sensation when passing urine.