Hi MSBee~ A friend and I were just discussing this very matter. I have had to get up in the night and change my PJ's. It's a subtle leak at night. Also, I notice it when I cough, sneeze or am doing any type of exercise.

I have discussed it w/my Urologist and they said my bladder has thinned out and they can do an Out pt procedure.

I haven't given it much thought yet. It is sooo annoying tho. I am thru Menopause... *yippee* so am just chalking it up to muscle control and getting older..

I know this thread is intended for female responses with similar experiences but I may be able to offer some additional information about this.

Firstly, one should discuss this problem in detail with their PCP/GP, neuro, and also a Urologist.

My wife was having a severe problem with leakage and down right spurts upon stress to the abdominal area from exercise, sex, sneezing, and coughing. She consulted with her PCP and was referred to a Urologist. After a full evaluation by the Urologist it was determined that her bladder had settled down to her Uterus. This too is not uncommon for women of pre and menapausal stages.

She had an operation, performed intravaginally, and a cadaver ligament was fastened to her pelvis raising the bladder back to its original position. The surgery was short and she was up and around in a few days. That was about six years ago and she hasn't had a problem since.

However, with age she is experiencing a very slight leakage when she coughs or sneezes but that all. Not at all like the problem before.

I'm glad you chimed in Craig. I wonder if that's what my Uro is talking about? It just seems I've had so much to get through lately, don't want to admit to yet another... problem.

Thanks for your input. (or output) ha! couldn't resist that one!!

I have a suggestion:

Some women "leak" unexpectedly when they are casein intolerant. I have seen posts on the internet where eliminating casein (dairy) stopped the problem.
This also pertains to kids who bed wet at older ages (beyond diaper times). Stopping casein sometimes works for them too.

But the problem for women in general is multifactorial. The urethra in a female is less than 1 in long. The muscle can get weak or be affected by MS.

Some people find that sympathetic drugs like Sudafed help. (phenylpropanolamine which was a common OTC drug is still used in animals who have incontinence--but it is removed from human use now by FDA because of stroke risk). But other stimulants may work as well. This is the mechanism touted for Cymbalta.... If it were I, I'd choose the Sudafed.

Certainly prolapses, have to be surgically improved.
And there is also cauda equina-- spinal stenosis.
There is nerve failure in MS.

Even simple things like too much Vit C will aggravate due to increased acidic urine which can irritate the urethra. Post menopausal women sometimes get relief from an estrogen cream applied to the vulval area once a week.
So there are MANY issues, with many solutions.

Mrsd - you are right about the estrogen...I was having similar problems and doc recommended it and it has improved significantly. Guess I am in perimenopause and estrogen decline or deficiency (esp since bladder is right in same area) can totally be affected.