Hey everyone and welcome back to another mini episode of Ask Dr Hazel.

In these short five minute episodes, I answer questions submitted by you.

Just a quick disclaimer that the information provided here is for informational purposes only

and should not be taken as medical advice or replace that of your usual healthcare provider.

Now, without further ado, let's hear from

this week's listener. Hi, Hazel. My question is about light bladder leakage and if it's normal

for a young woman, especially someone who hasn't had kids, and also what can I do about it?

Thank you so much for your question. I'm so glad that you brought this topic up because I know it affects a lot of people and it's not spoken about it. Thank you so much for your question. I'm so glad that you brought this topic up because I

know it affects a lot of people and it's not spoken about enough. Now, urinary incontinence or

accidental bladder leakage is very common in women, especially after childbirth and with ageing

as you quite rightly alluded to. But women who have not had children or a vaginal delivery can also

experience it. That said, while I really want to normalise talking about it, it's not normal

and it's not an inevitable part of being a woman. And there are things we can do to help.

So there are a few types of incontinence, but the most common types

are stress incontinence and urgent continents, but it's also possible to have a mixture of both.

Now, stress incontinence is often due to a weakened pelvic floor, and it occurs when urine

leaks when there's an increased downward pressure, for example, during coughing and laughing or

sneezing and also in certain forms of exercise, so typically running and skipping. Often, this might be

just little small amounts of urine, but it can be large amounts too, and it can massively affect

people's quality of life. No single thing causes it, but the biggest risk factor is age,

followed by pregnancy and vaginal delivery. But there are other things that can increase the risk as well,

including obesity, constipation, prolapse, previous pelvic surgery, lack of estrogen, for example,

...