Stress Incontinence: 7 Things Your Gynecologist Will Need to Know

Stress incontinence is defined as leaking urine involuntarily under situations that stress your bladder, such as lifting something, sneezing or laughing. Embarrassing as this can be, it isn’t a lifetime diagnosis! When you see your gynecologist about the problem, you'll probably have plenty of questions to ask -- and so you should. Information on the internet and available at the library can only be given in the most general sense, so you need to know what questions to ask your gynecologist about their proposed treatment for your stress incontinence. In order to give you good info, though, they'll have to ask a few questions of their own! Here we look at the information you should come armed with to a stress incontinence appointment.

1. Do you leak urine when laughing, coughing, lifting, and so on?
   If the answer is yes, you will certainly be diagnosed with some degree of stress incontinence. The management may be different depending on your individual situation, though.
2. Do you leak urine on the way to the bathroom, when you have a strong urge to pee?
   If you do, this might indicate that you have overactive bladder syndrome in conjunction with stress incontinence.
3. Are you woken up by the urge to urinate in the nighttime?
   Your gynecologist will need you to distinguish between being woken by other things and then feeling the need to wee, and waking because of the urge to wee.
4. Do you wear incontinence pads, and how often doo you need to change them?
   This will help them diagnose how severe your stress incontinence is, and will help determine whether you are given exercises to do, or medication or surgery is recommended.
5. How often do you empty your bladder in the daytime?
   You can record this if you like and show your doctor, to give an accurate picture of what is going on with your bladder.
6. Are you always aware of the leaking occurring?
   If you sometimes leak urine without being aware of it, an upgraded management plan might be devised.
7. Does it hurt when you urinate?
   This might indicate the need for antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection before any further diagnoses are made. Your stress incontinence could be caused by nothing more than an easily killed little germ!