Your symptoms are trying to tell you something.
Bladder or bowel leakage can be frustrating, confusing—and easy to dismiss as something you simply have to live with. But over time, it can quietly affect your confidence, your routines, and the things you enjoy.
Let's start by understanding what you're experiencing and when it happens.
Does this sound familiar?
Maybe you've started wearing a pad "just in case." Maybe you've stopped doing certain activities or always keep an eye out for the nearest restroom.
Whatever your experience, understanding how your symptoms affect your daily life can help you have a more informed conversation with your clinician.
Your symptoms matter more than the label.
Your symptoms matter more.
Many women don’t think of themselves as having "incontinence." They simply notice occasional leaks, sudden urges to go, or changes that affect their daily routine. Whatever words you use, your symptoms are real—and they’re worth discussing with your clinician.
You may recognize yourself in one of the common patterns below.
Leaking when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or exercise
Bladder leakage that happens during everyday movement or physical activity is commonly associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). It's one of the most common forms of bladder leakage.
- Coughing or sneezing
- Laughing
- Exercise
- Lifting or bending
A sudden, hard-to-control urge to go
A strong urge to urinate that’s difficult to control—and leads to leakage before reaching the bathroom—is commonly associated with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI).
- The sound of running water
- Jingling keys or unlocking your front door
- Little warning before leakage
- Little warning before needing to go
Going to the bathroom more often than you’d like
A sudden, difficult-to-control need to urinate, along with frequent urination, waking at night to urinate, and sometimes bladder leakage, is commonly associated with overactive bladder (OAB).
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Waking at night to urinate
- Leakage associated with urgency
Leakage with activity and with sudden urgency
Bladder leakage during physical activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercising—combined with sudden, hard-to-control urges to urinate—is commonly associated with mixed urinary incontinence (MUI).
- Leaking when you’re active
- Sudden urges to urinate
- Symptoms that vary from day to day
- Some days one symptom is more noticeable than the other
Difficulty controlling bowel movements or stool
Bowel leakage can be occasional or more frequent, and may happen with a sudden urge to go or passively, without an obvious urge. These symptoms are commonly associated with fecal incontinence (FI).
- Leakage of loose or formed stool
- Staining or smearing
- Sudden bowel urgency
- Difficulty controlling gas or bowel movements
Bladder or bowel symptoms that begin or become more noticeable over time
Changes in bladder or bowel symptoms can sometimes coincide with changes in your body or health. Noticing when your symptoms started or changed can help your clinician better understand what may be contributing to them.
- During or after pregnancy and childbirth
- Around menopause
- After surgery or a significant health change
- With weight changes or aging
Don't wait to start the conversation.
Bladder and bowel symptoms can affect daily life in different ways. They may come and go, change over time, or, for some women, become more frequent or bothersome. Talking with your clinician can help you better understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and explore treatment options that are right for you.
Ready to take the next step?
A clinician can help you understand your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and determine whether Leva may be appropriate for you.
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Citations
View all citations (3)
1. Voices for PFD. Bladder Control. Available at: Bladder Control | Voices for PFD. Accessed September 2, 2026.
2. Voices for PFD. Bowel Control. Available at: Bowel Control | Voices for PFD. Accessed September 2, 2026.
3. Voices for PFD. What Are PFDs? Available at: What Are PFDs? | Voices for PFD. Accessed September 2, 2026.