What Is Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)?
Do you sometimes leak urine when you cough or sneeze? If so, your doctor may have told you that you have stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Stress urinary incontinence may occur when the structures that help hold urine in your bladder become weak.
The Symptoms of SUI
If you have SUI, you may leak urine when you:
Cough, sneeze, or laugh
Lift something heavy
Exercise
 Strong pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue, and a strong urethral sphincter, help keep urine in the bladder. |
 Weak or torn pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue, or a weak urethral sphincter, can let urine leak out of the bladder. |
Normal Urine Control
The bladder holds urine until you are ready to let it flow out. These structures help:
The pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue help hold the pelvic organs in place. When the muscles and connective tissue are strong, the urethra and bladder are well supported. This helps keep the urethra closed, so urine doesn’t leak.
The urethral sphincter is a band of muscles around the urethra. When these muscles are strong, they keep urine in the bladder. These muscles relax when you want urine to flow out.
If Urine Leaks Out
The pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue may stretch, weaken, or tear. Weak or torn structures can’t support the urethra and bladder. The urethral sphincter may also weaken. These changes can cause urine to leak. The changes may be caused by: