What are the main types of urinary incontinence?

The most common are stress, urge and mixed incontinence.

How do I know which type I have?

The trigger is a good clue. Leaks from coughing point to stress; a sudden urge points to urge. Many people have a mix.

Types of Urinary Incontinence: Stress, Urge & Mixed

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The different types of urinary incontinence, and what actually helps

If you leak a little urine before you mean to, you are far from alone, and it helps to know that "incontinence" is not one single thing. There are a few different types, they happen for different reasons, and knowing which one sounds like you makes it much easier to know what will help. Here is a plain guide, with no shame and no jargon.

Stress incontinence

This is leaking when there is physical pressure on your bladder: a cough, a sneeze, a laugh, lifting, or a run. It usually points to a pelvic floor that could be more toned, and it is the most common type in women, especially after pregnancy or around the menopause.

Urge incontinence

This is the sudden, urgent need to go, sometimes with a leak before you make it to the loo. You might notice you are going more often, or planning your day around toilets. It is linked to the bladder muscle being overactive, and it often sits alongside stress incontinence.

Mixed incontinence

Exactly what it sounds like: a bit of both. You leak when you cough or laugh, and you also get those sudden urgent moments. Mixed is very common, and supporting the pelvic floor can help with the stress side while you talk to a professional about the rest.

How the pelvic floor comes into it

For the everyday, stress-type leaks, a more toned pelvic floor gives the bladder better support under pressure. The pelvic floor is a muscle, so like any muscle it responds to gentle, regular work. The catch is that traditional exercises are easy to forget and hard to keep up, which is exactly the gap a pelvic floor toner is designed to fill.

Where Soma Flex fits in

Soma Flex is a pelvic floor toner you use at home, with no exercises to remember, no app and no programme. It is reusable, discreet, and built to make looking after your pelvic floor easy enough that you actually stick with it, which is usually the whole battle.

When to speak to a professional

If your leaks are heavy, sudden, painful, or come with other symptoms, or if urgency is running your day, speak to your GP or a pelvic health physiotherapist. Soma Flex is a wellbeing product, not a substitute for medical advice.

FAQ

The most common are stress incontinence (leaks from coughing, sneezing or exercise), urge incontinence (a sudden urgent need to go), and mixed, which is a combination of the two.

A good clue is the trigger. Leaks when you cough or laugh point to the stress type, while a sudden urgent need points to the urge type. Many people have a mix. A GP or pelvic health physiotherapist can help you be sure.

For everyday stress-type leaks, a more toned pelvic floor gives the bladder more support. A toner like Soma Flex is designed to make that easy to keep up.