Is Leaking Urine During Exercise Normal?

Regular exercise is essential to good health and longevity. If unexpected urine leaks keep you from engaging in physical activities, know that the help you need is available at Salem Women’s Clinic, Inc.

Our skilled physicians understand how disruptive urinary incontinence can be in a woman’s life. We specialize in nonsurgical treatments to prevent urine leaks and restore your bladder control.

Know that urine leaks during exercise or any activity aren’t typical but are manageable. With a customized treatment plan, you can find solutions to stop them from happening.

What is causing urine leaks?

Urinary incontinence describes urine leaks that occur when pressure is put on the bladder, such as during exercise, laughing, or sneezing. Women are especially prone to incontinence issues during pregnancy and after childbirth because their bladder muscles may be too weak to control the flow of urine.

This type of condition is known as stress incontinence. You can also experience stress incontinence if you frequently lift heavy objects, are overweight or obese, or if you develop a persistent cough. Aging can also increase your risk for stress incontinence.

Overflow incontinence is another condition that triggers unexpected leaks of urine. This condition occurs when you can’t empty your bladder fully during urination.

Women might also develop urge incontinence, a condition that causes sudden urges to urinate, which makes it difficult to reach the bathroom before urine leaks out. Urge incontinence can be a side effect of diabetes or a neurological disorder.

When to seek medical intervention for urine leaks

You can contact our Salem Women’s Clinic, Inc .team if you have frequent or severe urine leaks that interfere with your daily activities, including exercise.

Our goal is to confirm or rule out neurological disorders and other serious health issues that play a role in urine leaks. We offer comprehensive health evaluations to understand your current health and review your medical history to identify potential causes of urinary incontinence.

Your diagnosis evaluation might include:

Urinalysis
Pelvic exam
Urine output testing
Bladder ultrasound

It can also be helpful to document how often you have urine leaks and the activities you were involved in when the leaks occurred.

Treatments for lasting relief of urine leaks

Our providers focus on the least invasive method for alleviating urine leaks. Initially, we might suggest lifestyle changes that support better bladder function, such as avoiding caffeine and other stimulants that trigger an overactive bladder response.

You might also need to avoid drinking liquids after a specific time at night to prevent urine leaks while sleeping. Additionally, you can follow a set bathroom schedule to empty your bladder more often during the day.

When lifestyle changes aren’t making a difference, our team might suggest:

Depending on the severity of your urine leaks and their cause, you might be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery to reinforce or repair damaged muscles in your pelvic floor.

Until your treatment starts working, you can use liners or pads that absorb urine during your workouts to stay consistent with your exercise regimen.

Call Salem Women’s Clinic, Inc. in Salem, Oregon, today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for unexpected urine leaks. You can also book a consultation online.