Bladder Concerns
What Are Bladder Concerns?
Bladder concerns often relate to symptoms such as leaking urine when you don’t want to and rushing to the toilet more frequently than normal. They symptoms often fall under the umbrella terms of ‘Stress Urinary Incontinence’, ‘Urge Incontinence’ or mixture of both. While these symptoms are common, they are not normal and have different factors which contribute to their development, such as menopause, weak pelvic floor, drinking a lot of caffeine, etc… Please read below for more details on these symptoms:
+ Are you leaking?
This could be Stress Incontinence (SUI).
- This happens when urine leaks during everyday physical activities that put pressure on the bladder, like coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects or exercising.
- This type of leakage results from weakened pelvic floor muscles or a less supported urethra, which normally help keep urine in place.
- SUI is the most common type of urinary leakage, especially among women, and often starts after childbirth, with age, or during menopause.
- Things that can help include strengthening your pelvic floor by completing pelvic floor squeezes (see squeezy app). If symptoms persist and are affecting your daily life, then it may be worth seeking advice from a Pelvic Floor.
- Physiotherapist, other medical professional or attending a free community education session run by Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists (see resource at the bottom of this page).
+ Are you running to the toilet all the time?
This could be Urge Incontinence—sometimes called overactive bladder
- This is when you feel a sudden, overwhelming need to urinate and may not make it to the toilet in time.
- This happens because the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily, even when the bladder isn’t full.
- Common signs include needing to wee frequently or waking at night to urinate.
- Some things that can help include drinking plenty of good fluids (ideally water), 1.5 to 2 litres daily, avoiding excess bladder stimulants e.g. caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks and increasing the time interval between passing urine (normal frequency is around 7 times per day and 0-1 times per night), supporting bladder training.
Local Support
NHS Community Healthy Bladder and Bowel Service (SBUHB)
Lots of helpful information, including explanations of different issues and what you can do to help manage these conditions. They are also there to help if you need extra support.
Tel: 01792 532424
SBUHB Pelvic Health Physiotherapy – Self Referral
PLEASE NOTE: This self-referral form is for people experiencing pelvic health concerns such as Bladder or Bowel symptoms, Pelvic organ prolapse, Pelvic pain, or pregnancy-related pain.
This service supports anyone whose pelvic anatomy is typically associated with female anatomy at birth.
SBUHB – Women’s Pelvic Health Information Sessions
Join us for a free, informative session on pelvic health led by NHS physiotherapists. Held in venues across Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.
This session will explore key pelvic health issues that can affect women throughout different stages of life—from adolescence to post-menopause. Whether you’re currently experiencing symptoms or simply want to learn more, our expert physiotherapists will guide you through:
- Common pelvic health concerns
- Self-management strategies
- Where you get more information or further help
This is a great opportunity to ask questions, gain confidence, and take proactive steps toward improving your pelvic health.
Help and Resources
Bladder Health UK
Website on supporting people to live positively with bladder issues.
Tel: 0121 702 0820
Bladder and Bowel Community
At the Bladder & Bowel Community, they help support millions of people in the UK who are living with conditions that affect their bladder or bowel. Whether you have a condition yourself or are a relative, friend or carer of someone who does then you’ll find support, information, guidance and help you need.
Bladder and Bowel Community – Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI)
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) resource available on the Bladder and Bowel Community website.
Bladder and Bowel Community – Urinary Urger and Urge Incontinence
Urinary urger and Urge Incontinence information available on the Bladder and Bowel Community website.
Break Free from Plans to Pee
UK web resource for people living with overactive bladder, a common condition affecting hundreds of thousands of people in this country.