Urge Incontinence Care
Urge incontinence is a sudden, powerful need to pass urine that is hard to put off, often with leaking before you reach the toilet. Left unaddressed, it can shape journeys, sleep, and social life around the nearest toilets.
At The Pelvic Clinic, Mr Broome offers an unhurried appointment, a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan built around your symptoms, from bladder retraining and medication through to specialist procedures.
Overview
Urge incontinence, sometimes called an overactive bladder, happens when the bladder muscle contracts before it is full. This creates a sudden, powerful need to pass urine that is difficult to put off, and often results in leaking before you reach the toilet.
It’s a common condition that affects millions of women in the UK and becomes more likely with age, though it isn’t inevitable. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, symptoms can usually improve significantly.
Many women live with symptoms for years before seeking help, often assuming little can be done. In reality, most cases respond well to treatment, and even simple changes like bladder retraining can bring noticeable relief within weeks, without needing to jump straight to medication or procedures.
What to Look For
The need comes on quickly and is hard to put off, even when the bladder isn't full.
Urine escapes on the way to the bathroom, sometimes more than just a few drops.
Needing to go more than eight times a day, or being caught out by how frequently the urge returns.
Being woken one or more times a night to go, leaving sleep disrupted.
Certain sounds, temperatures, or even putting the key in the front door can trigger the urge.
Mapping out journeys or avoiding long meetings and social events for fear of not making it in time.
What Causes It
Urge incontinence can have several overlapping causes, from an overactive bladder muscle to nerve signalling problems, lifestyle factors and hormonal changes.
The bladder wall contracts before it’s full, sending a strong urge signal to the brain even when little urine is present.
Miscommunication between the bladder and the nerves that control it can cause urgency and leaks that are hard to control.
Urinary tract infections, caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks, and some medications can irritate the bladder lining and worsen symptoms.
Falling oestrogen levels, childbirth, or previous pelvic surgery can weaken the pelvic floor and change how well the bladder holds urine.
Treatments Available
From bladder retraining and medication to modern specialist procedures, we start with the least invasive option that will work for you.
A structured programme that gradually extends the time between toilet visits. Many women notice a meaningful improvement within 6 to 12 weeks.
Well-tolerated tablets that calm an overactive bladder and reduce urgency, frequency and leaks, tailored to your symptoms and general health.
A small dose of botulinum toxin injected into the bladder wall relaxes the overactive muscle. A day-case procedure, with effects typically lasting six to nine months; a small number of women need to self-catheterise afterwards, which we'll explain fully beforehand.
PTNS (percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation) or sacral neuromodulation gently stimulates the nerves that control the bladder, a course-based option for women whose symptoms haven't responded to simpler measures.
Meet Your Consultant
Mr Jonathan Broome is a consultant gynaecologist and urogynaecologist based in Manchester, with 26 years’ experience, including 16 years in full private practice. He was trained in medicine at the University of Birmingham before completing a fellowship in advanced endoscopic gynaecology at the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney. He then built his reputation treating complex pelvic floor cases as a consultant at Royal Bolton Hospital, and now consults privately, managing urge incontinence symptoms at Spire Manchester and Spire Hale.
He founded The Pelvic Clinic to give women the time to be listened to, to offer accurate diagnosis and a meaningful treatment plan individualised to each patient’s requirements, concerns and lifestyle goals.
In Our Patients’ Words
Verified reviews from patients seen by Mr Broome, shared through Doctify.
Real Patient Journeys
A snapshot of real patients that Mr Broome has treated across the range of conditions he specialises in.
A difficult labour left Alison with a uterine and vaginal wall prolapse. A keyhole sacrohysteropexy with Mr Broome lifted the…
Years of flooding periods and iron-deficiency anaemia caused by fibroids. A keyhole myomectomy with Mr Broome removed the…
Kate had been living with severe pelvic pain from endometriosis for over a decade. Laparoscopic excision surgery with Mr Broom…
After menopause, Kaye developed a bothersome vaginal vault prolapse that stopped her running and swimming. A…
Diagnosis starts with an unhurried conversation about your symptoms, a bladder diary and a urine sample to rule out infection. If needed, we arrange bladder scans or urodynamic testing to see exactly how your bladder is behaving.
A structured programme where you gradually increase the time between toilet visits, helping the bladder hold more urine and regain better control.
Yes, for many women. Tablets can meaningfully reduce urgency and leaks, though they can cause side effects such as a dry mouth or constipation, which we’ll discuss with you.
Options include PTNS (nerve stimulation) and bladder Botox, each suited to different symptoms and preferences.
Often, yes. Adjusting fluid intake, cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, and treating constipation can all ease symptoms alongside other treatments.
Private appointments can usually be arranged within days for self-pay and insured patients without the wait typically associated with an NHS referral.
No. Urge incontinence is a sudden need to go that’s hard to control, while stress incontinence is leaking triggered by coughing, laughing, or exercise. Some women experience both.
It becomes more common with age, but it isn’t inevitable and doesn’t have to be left untreated. Symptoms usually respond well to treatment at any age.
Common Questions
Answers to the questions patients ask most often about urge incontinence, diagnosis, and treatment at The Pelvic Clinic. If your question is not here, please get in touch; we are happy to help.
