11 Aug Stress urinary incontinence in girls: Causes and how physiotherapy can help
It’s a problem that’s rarely talked about—teenage girls leaking urine during sports, running, or even laughing. While we often associate bladder leaks with pregnancy or aging, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can affect young, active girls too.
SUI happens when there’s increased pressure on the bladder and the pelvic floor muscles aren’t able to provide enough support. This can lead to leaks during activities like running, jumping, or sneezing. It’s frustrating, embarrassing, and can even make girls withdraw from sports they love.
Why Do Some Young Girls Experience SUI?
There are a few key reasons why young, healthy girls might develop stress urinary incontinence:
- Starting a new sport or increasing activity levels – High-impact sports like gymnastics, netball, trampolining, and running place a lot of strain on the pelvic floor. If these muscles aren’t strong or coordinated enough, they may struggle to support the bladder properly.
- Holding pee for too long – Some girls develop the habit of ignoring bladder urges, especially in school where toilet breaks are limited. Over time, this can make the bladder more sensitive and affect how well the pelvic floor muscles respond.
- Hypermobile joints and weak connective tissues – Girls with conditions like hypermobility (extra flexible joints) may also have more flexible pelvic tissues, making it harder for the pelvic floor to provide support.
- Breath-holding and poor core engagement – Many young athletes don’t realise that how they breathe during exercise impacts their pelvic floor. Holding their breath while lifting weights or landing from a jump can put excessive downward pressure on the bladder.
Why Stress Urinary Incontinence in Girls Matters
Many girls assume that occasional leaks are just part of playing sports, but it’s not normal—and ignoring the issue can lead to bigger problems down the track. If a girl develops habits of clenching her pelvic floor all the time to prevent leaks, it can lead to tight, overactive pelvic muscles, which may cause pain with exercise or even discomfort during tampon use later on.
How a Pelvic Floor Physio Can Help
The good news? SUI is very treatable in young girls, and physiotherapy is the first line of treatment. A pelvic floor physio can:
- Assess pelvic floor strength and coordination – It’s not just about ‘squeezing’; the muscles need to contract and relax correctly.
- Teach the right way to engage the pelvic floor during sport – Small technique changes, like exhaling on impact instead of breath-holding, can make a huge difference.
- Address any bladder habits contributing to the problem – Encouraging regular, relaxed voiding can help reset bladder function.
- Provide sport-specific exercises – Strengthening the core, hips, and pelvic floor together can improve support and reduce leaks.
If your daughter, student, or patient is experiencing bladder leaks during sport or activity, know that help is available. A pelvic floor physiotherapist at Western Womens and Mens Health may provide you with guidance and support. Seeking advice early can help young girls regain confidence and enjoy and active lifestyle.
No girl should have to quit the sport she loves because of an issue that can be fixed! To learn more contact our friendly team at Western Womens and Mens Health, or arrange an appointment online via our booking system.