WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A LAUGH, COUGH OR SNEEZE CAUSES LEAKING?
You may have noticed that sometimes a loss of urine occurs as a result of a cough, sneeze, laugh or vigorous exercise. Many women with this problem, known as stress incontinence, may begin limiting their own activities for just this reason. However, coughing, sneezing and even laughing are often unavoidable. We need to laugh and exercise (and cough and sneeze) to live life to it fullest. Understanding stress incontinence is the first step to finding a solution. Stress incontinence got its name because the pressure or strain from a laugh or cough results in a loss of urine. The bladder and urethra are normally held firmly in place by muscles and connecting tissue in the pelvis (see figure 1-1). When you cough, pressure increases inside your abdomen, and the pressure pushes on your bladder and urethra. If the supporting pelvic muscles or connecting tissues have been damaged or weakened, they may not be able to withstand the force of the cough. The pressure then forces the urethra to open
