Urinary Incontinence Treatment in London
Understanding and Managing Urinary Incontinence
When you leak a small amount of urine, this is known as urinary incontinence. There are different types of urinary incontinence, but the most common are stress incontinence and urge incontinence. It affects about 20% of people over 40 years of age and is more prevalent in females.
Stress incontinence is caused by increased pressure in the abdomen for example when you cough, sneeze, run, jump or lift something heavy. Urge incontinence is caused by an overactive bladder. It is characterised by strong ‘urges’ to go to the toilet and not making it in time.
Urinary incontinence can have a big impact on your quality of life. Close to one-third of women have reported that it affected their social life as they were unwilling to go to places where they were unsure about the availability of toilets. 23% of women reported that it affected their sex life and compromised exercise and activity levels. Many women find it embarrassing to talk about and don’t seek medical help, but physiotherapy can help.
Our London Clinic
Our clinic is conveniently situated just off of Tottenham Court Road, in between Tottenham Court Road and Goodge Street tube stations.
How Pelvic Floor Weakness Leads to Incontinence and What Can Help
One of the main causes of incontinence is weak pelvic floor muscles. For women, pelvic floor muscles are usually weakened by pregnancy and childbirth.During pregnancy, the extra weight and changes in hormones weaken your pelvic floor (the muscles, ligaments and tissues that support the bladder). The pelvic floor is further weakened during natural delivery of the baby. After menopause, the body produces less of the female hormone, oestrogen,which normally keeps the pelvic floor strong.
The treatment you receive will depend on the type of urinary incontinence you have and how severe it is. Treatment can include:
- Women’s health physiotherapy
- Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, drinking more water and cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking
- Medication to help relax the bladder muscles, which play an important role in urge incontinence
- Surgery may be required in severe cases where physiotherapy or medication have not been worked
Research has shown that pelvic floor strengthening and lifestyle changes are cheaper and more effective than incontinence drugs. In July 2018 the UK Government announced plans to pause the use of vaginally inserted mesh and tape to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in England. They recommend that in the first instance, patients should be referred to a women’s health physiotherapist for pelvic floor strengthening.
Why Choose PhysioReform in London?
At PhysioReform we treat urinary incontinence as the specialist clinical problem it is, not something to be managed quietly with pads. Our assessment identifies whether your symptoms are stress, urge or mixed in origin, because the right treatment depends entirely on that answer.
From there you get a pelvic floor rehabilitation programme built for your bladder pattern, your daily routine and your goals, with clear markers so you can see whether it is working.
How can we help with urinary incontinence?
Your physiotherapist will provide you with strengthening exercises for your pelvic floor and core muscles. In the case of an overactive bladder, relaxation exercises are taught, as well as bladder retraining. Biofeedback and electrical stimulation may also be used during your physiotherapy session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pelvic floor exercises help urinary incontinence?
Yes, pelvic floor exercises are a first-line, evidence-based treatment for urinary incontinence, particularly stress and mixed incontinence, by improving muscle strength, coordination and support around the bladder and urethra. The evidence supports supervised, correctly performed pelvic floor muscle training over generic exercise apps or advice. Many people experience significant improvement with consistent, guided practice.
What is the difference between stress and urge incontinence?
Stress incontinence involves urine leakage during physical exertion, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercise, due to pressure on a weakened pelvic floor. Urge incontinence involves a sudden, strong need to urinate, sometimes with leakage before reaching the toilet, related to bladder muscle overactivity. Many people experience a mixed pattern involving both, following POGP diagnostic frameworks.
How long do pelvic floor exercises take to work?
Many people notice initial improvement within six to twelve weeks of consistent, correctly performed pelvic floor exercises, though this varies with severity, muscle function and how regularly exercises are practised. Continued improvement often occurs over several months. Supervised training with feedback on technique typically produces faster, more reliable results than self-guided exercise alone.
Can menopause cause urinary incontinence?
Yes, declining oestrogen during menopause can weaken pelvic floor muscles and supporting tissues, contributing to stress or urge urinary incontinence, which is common but not something to simply accept. Pelvic floor physiotherapy, guided by Pelvic Floor Society approaches, often meaningfully improves bladder symptoms through targeted muscle retraining, bladder habit advice and lifestyle adjustments tailored to you.
Is an internal examination necessary to assess my pelvic floor?
Not always. Internal examination provides the most accurate assessment of pelvic floor strength and coordination, but external assessment, symptom history and movement testing can also guide treatment when internal examination isn’t appropriate or wanted. Your physiotherapist at our central London clinic will always explain options and proceed only with your full, informed consent.
