A small leak when you cough, sneeze, laugh or lift your child is one of the most common things women describe in a urogynecology consultation — and one of the least often raised without prompting. It is not an inevitable part of ageing, and it is not simply the price of having given birth. In most cases it reflects a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder, and that is something a specialist can assess and treat.
There are two broad patterns. Stress incontinence is the leak that happens with physical pressure — a cough, a jump, a heavy shopping bag. Urge incontinence is the sudden, hard-to-postpone need to go, sometimes arriving with very little warning. Many women have a mixture of both. Because the treatment differs depending on which is driving the problem, the first step is always a proper assessment rather than guesswork.
Surgery is not the starting point for most patients. At THE FIT CLINIC we work primarily with non-surgical approaches, including the Dr. Arnold Magnetic Chair, which uses high-intensity electromagnetic technology to contract the pelvic floor muscles while you sit fully clothed — the equivalent of thousands of voluntary contractions in a single session. Any downtime is discussed at the assessment. How many sessions are appropriate is decided at the assessment, not in advance.
If you have been managing quietly with pads, or planning your day around where the bathrooms are, it is worth having the cause properly identified. No referral is needed. THE FIT CLINIC is on the 8th floor of EM Tower, EMSPHERE, directly at BTS Phrom Phong, open daily 10:00–19:00. You are welcome to ask any question first on LINE @thefitbkk.