You cross your legs before you sneeze. You know where the toilets are in every shop in town. You’ve stopped running, or trampolining with the children, because of what happens when you do. Or the need to go arrives so suddenly that you don’t always make it.
Bladder leaks are very common, and many women live with them for years because they assume nothing can be done. In most cases something can. Physiotherapy is the recommended first treatment, and you can book directly without a GP referral.
The two main types of leak
- Stress incontinence: leaking with a cough, sneeze, laugh, lift or impact, such as running and jumping. It happens when the pelvic floor can’t quite hold against a sudden rise in pressure. It is common after pregnancy and birth, and around the menopause.
- Urgency: a sudden, strong need to pass urine that is hard to put off, sometimes with a leak on the way to the toilet. It often comes with going very frequently, or getting up in the night.
Many women have a mixture of the two. Working out which you have matters, because the treatment is different.
What can help
National guidance recommends supervised pelvic floor muscle training for at least three months as the first treatment for stress and mixed incontinence, and bladder training for urgency. In practice that means:
- Checking your technique. Many women who have “tried pelvic floor exercises” have never been shown how to do them, and a good number are bearing down instead of lifting.
- A programme pitched at your starting point, progressed as you get stronger, and built into movements that make you leak.
- Bladder training for urgency: gradually stretching the time between visits, with techniques to calm the urge.
- Practical changes, such as how much and what you drink, and managing constipation, which puts extra load on the pelvic floor.
If you also have a feeling of heaviness or a bulge, read about prolapse physiotherapy.
Your first appointment
Your first appointment lasts 60 minutes, in a private room. We’ll ask about your symptoms, your bladder and bowel habits, any pregnancies and births, and what you’d like to get back to. We’ll look at your posture, breathing and tummy muscles.
With your consent, an internal examination is the most accurate way to assess the pelvic floor. It is always your choice, and there are other ways to assess and treat you if you’d prefer not to. You’ll leave knowing what we found and with a plan to start straight away.
Getting back to running, the gym and the trampoline
Leaking with impact is one of the most common reasons women give up exercise they enjoy. Once the basics are in place, we build towards what you actually want to do: adding load and speed in stages, practising the movements that provoke a leak, and adjusting your training in the meantime so that you can keep active.
If you’ve had a baby, a Mummy MOT is a thorough place to start, however long ago the birth was.
When to see your GP first
- Blood in your urine, or pain or burning when you pass urine, which can be signs of an infection or need checking for other causes
- Bleeding after the menopause
- Being unable to pass urine
- A sudden loss of bladder or bowel control with numbness around your back passage or genitals, which can be a sign of pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine and needs urgent medical assessment
The NHS has more on urinary incontinence and when to get help.
Who you'll see
Bladder leaks are seen here by our women’s health physiotherapist.
Jodie Pargeter is our women’s health physiotherapist and co-founder of The Health Hub, with over 20 years’ experience in NHS and private practice. She is a certified Mummy MOT® practitioner and is trained in APPI Clinical Pilates.
Jodie Pargeter
Physiotherapist,
Acupuncture Physiotherapist,
Women’s Health Specialist,
Restore C-section Scar Specialist
APPI Pilates trained
Jodie is co-founder of The Health Hub and a chartered physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in NHS and private practice. She leads our women’s health physiotherapy service, supporting women through pregnancy, recovery after birth and long-term pelvic health.
She is a certified Mummy MOT® practitioner, trained in RESTORE C-section scar therapy and APPI Clinical Pilates, and uses real-time ultrasound to help you see and learn how your deep core muscles are working.
Prices and insurance
- Women’s health initial consultation (60 minutes): £94
- Follow-up treatment (30 minutes): £74
No GP referral is needed. You pay at your appointment and we’ll give you an invoice to claim back from your insurer if you’re covered. Insurer recognition varies by clinician, so ask us when you book. See our full price list
Frequently asked questions
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, call us and we’ll be glad to help.
- Isn't leaking normal after having a baby?
-
It is common, but that is not the same as normal, and it isn’t something you have to accept. Leaking that carries on after the first few months is worth having assessed, and it is never too late to start.
- I've tried pelvic floor exercises and they didn't work. Is it worth coming?
-
Yes. The most common reasons exercises fail are doing them incorrectly, not doing enough, or doing the wrong type for your problem. An assessment shows us which applies to you.
- Do I have to have an internal examination?
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No. It is the most accurate way to assess the pelvic floor, and we will explain why, but it is always your choice. There are other ways to assess and treat you if you’d prefer not to.
- How long will it take to see a difference?
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Guidance recommends at least three months of supervised training, because muscle takes time to change. Many women notice some improvement sooner, and we review your progress as you go.
- Can you help if it has been going on for years, or started at the menopause?
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Yes. We see women at every stage, including many years after childbirth and during and after the menopause. Read more about menopause and pelvic health.
- Do I need a GP referral?
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No, you can book directly. If you’re claiming on private health insurance, check whether your insurer needs a referral first.
Based in Haywards Heath, we see patients from:
You’ll find us at Unit 3, 2-8 Sussex Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 4EA. There’s free on-street parking on Sussex Road and two pay and display car parks a short walk away, and our entrance, treatment rooms and toilets are wheelchair accessible. We’re open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, and Saturday 8am to 1pm.
Book an appointment
If leaking is getting in the way of your day or your exercise, it’s worth having it assessed. Book online or call us on 01444 817851.
Reviewed by Jodie Pargeter, women’s health physiotherapist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Last reviewed November 2026.
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