Women aged over the age of 40 are the most likely to be affected by stress incontinence, although the condition affects men also and can develop at an earlier age.
Risk factors include:
- Pregnancy, Vaginal birth delivery
- Often, symptoms can improve with simple measures such as pelvic floor exercises and lifestyle modifications, but for some women, the problem will persist.
- Childbirth
- a vaginal delivery can stretch, damage and bruise the nerves around the pelvic floor and as a result, they may not respond as well as before. It appears that women who have had a tear or episiotomy face a greater risk of developing urinary incontinence..
- Smoking, Ageing, Menopause, Excessive weight
- Hysterectomy
- the operation carries a risk of damage to the pelvic floor.
SUI also causes great psychosocial and sexual distress .