Bladder > Bladder Problems

Bladder Problems

The first and most important point to remember is that everyone with a bladder problem can be helped and many can be completely cured. 

If you have been diagnosed with incontinence problems, you can search the drop down menus below to find out more information about your specific condition or problem.  If you have not been diagnosed by a health professional, the following questions about your symptoms should help you find the information you are looking for. 

Many of these symptoms can be caused by a condition called Overactive Bladder.

• Do you have a sudden urge to go to the loo or are unable to hold on and reach the toilet in time?  You may have Urgency or Urge Incontinence.
• Do you find you need to go to the loo very often and more than 8 times a day?  This may be Frequency.
• Do you often need to get up during the night?  You may have Nocturia.
• Do you wet the bed at night?  You may have Nocturnal Enuresis.
• If you have one or more of the above symptoms, you may have Mixed Urinary Incontinence.
• Do you leak when you laugh, cough, sneeze or exercise? You may have Stress Urinary Incontinence, called SUI for short and often referred to as Bladder Weakness or weak bladder.
• Do you sometimes dribble urine without noticing or need to strain to pass urine? You may have Overflow Incontinence.

Many bladder problems are common in both men and women, whilst some are related to the anatomical differences between men and women.

Once you have a clearer idea of what your problem may be or if you have been diagnosed you can visit our treatment and product sections to see what your options are for managing your symptoms or condition.  Information dealing with the more practical and emotional side of coping with bladder problems can be found by visiting the Info and Advice section.

How to approach your GP about your bladder problems

It is never too late to get help with your bladder problems. If you would like some advice on how to approach your GP regarding your bladder problem you may find our Advice Sheet helpful. It also includes information on tests that your GP may recommend you have done. To download, please click on this link Bladder Advice Sheet.

Further Help and Advice

If you would prefer to talk this through with a specialist continence nurse before you make an appointment with your GP or continence clinic, please phone our Helpline on 0845 345 0165.

B&BF's Helpline is totally confidential, please visit our Helpline page if you would like more information on this service.

You can also purchase one of our Just Can't Wait toilet cards from our Resources section. 

You can also obtain the Radar key which is part of the National Key Scheme. Please click here to be directed to the Radar website for more information.

talkhealth Incontinence Forum

B&BF is working in partnership with talkhealth to promote a new online incontinence forum which is managed and run in its entirety by the talkhealth team.

If you'd like to join the incontinence forum and begin posting or would like to see what it's all about please visit the Talkhealth website.

The Talkincontinence Forum is not managed, hosted or moderated by B&BF and talkhealth Forums is an independent organisation entirely separate from the Bladder and Bowel Foundation. B&BF neither endorses the content nor contributes to any content on the Forum sites, unless specifically marked as such. B&BF accepts no responsibility for any of the content on the talkhealth Forums.

If you would like to make a donation to B&BF to help us continue with our vital work, please click on the Just Giving button below. 

All the information provided by B&BF is intended as a general guide only and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own GP or any other health professional.   We therefore recommend that you make an appointment with your GP or other health professional for a medical assessment and diagnosis.