Stress Incontinence - failure of the urethra, the "valve" which closes the bladder.

Symptoms:

• The involuntary loss of small amounts of urine in response to increased pressure on the bladder (for example, when a person coughs, sneezes, laughs, or lifts heavy objects urine leaks out).

• Stress Incontinence results from weakened pelvic support of the urethra and/or weakness of the sphincter muscle of the urethra.
• It may be due to the effects of childbirth or menopause on the pelvic structures.

• The weakened urethra fails to act as a valve to keep the urine in the bladder.