Why do I leak when I...?

We've all been there. One minute you're in a fit of laughter and the next, you feel a dribble of urine escape. Or perhaps you're lifting weights when you notice a small trickle leak out. These episodes of light bladder leaks are associated with stress incontinence – when routine movements like sneezing, coughing, laughing, and exercising place pressure on the bladder that can cause an involuntary dribbling of urine.

Common causes of leakage include:

• Strenuous physical activities 
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Pelvic surgery and trauma 
• Loss of muscle tone 
• Enlarged prostate
• Shift in hormonal balance in women

As you can see there are many possible causes of stress incontinence, so it's important to visit your physician to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. You can learn more about the types of incontinence and treatment options here.