Bladder problems include conditions such as urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine. It is increasingly common the older people get, and for some it requires the need to use incontinence pads. Urinary incontinence often impairs your quality of life, interrupting activities and the ability to lead the life you want. We aim to restore your quality of life, avoid disability, and ideally avoid the need for pads. For many, bladder problems are curable and can be treated.

Bladder problems such as urinary incontinence include symptoms such as not making it to the toilet in time (urge incontinence) or leakage with straining, exertion, coughing or sneezing (stress incontinence). For many people it may be both. Other bladder symptoms include going to the toilet too often (frequency), getting up at night (nocturia) and discomfort or difficulty emptying the bladder.

Most bladder and pelvic problems result from pregnancy and childbirth, particularly vaginal delivery. However, some individuals have weak tissues (connective tissue) or a family history. Regular straining due to a chronic cough or constipation, a physical lifestyle, and the ageing process can all contribute to bladder and pelvic floor problems.

Bladder probelms are 'quality of life conditions' meaning that treatment is only needed when they have an affect on your day to day life. You may not be able to leave the house, undertake social or sporting activites, or worry about being near a toilet due to urine leakage or a feeling of always need to use the toilet.

Urinary incontinence is diagnosed by one of our consultants examining you to assess your pelvic floor. You will also be asked to complete a bladder diary and questionnaires. A small outpatient procedure (urodynamic testing), that measures the pressure in your bladder with a small tube, is often needed to confirm the type of incontinence and test bladder function.

Once diagnosed, urinary incontinence is often initially treated with pelvic floor exercises and/or bladder re-training supervised by one of our physiotherapists. For those that are not cured by this and those with more severe incontinence, our consultants have expertise in surgery. This includes small outpatient procedures such as bulking (injecting a water-based gel to support the water-pipe) or the injection of Botox into the bladder. We also offer laparoscopic colposuspension (keyhole procedure to support the water-pipe) and autologous fascial sling (using your own tissue to support the water pipe). Our team of gynaecologists can offer expert advice to help you decide on the right treatment for you.