Stress urinary incontinence is involuntary urine leakage during a rise in abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting. “Stress” refers to physical pressure, not emotional stress.

SUI is linked to exertion or pressure. Urgency incontinence involves a sudden, compelling need to urinate that is difficult to postpone. If both occur, it is called mixed urinary incontinence.

A sudden rise in pressure can overcome the urethra’s closure and pelvic support. Pelvic-floor weakness or injury, childbirth, prolapse, chronic cough, constipation, weight and other factors may contribute.

Pregnancy and birth can affect pelvic-floor muscles, nerves and connective tissues. Leakage may begin soon after delivery or become more noticeable later, especially with further pressure or tissue changes.

It becomes more common with age, but it should not be dismissed as inevitable. Menopause-related tissue changes may occur alongside pelvic-floor and urethral support changes, and assessment can identify appropriate care.

Assessment usually covers triggers, severity, urgency symptoms, bladder habits, infections, medicines, childbirth, surgery, prolapse and previous care. A bladder diary, urine testing and a consent-led pelvic examination may be appropriate.

Not every woman needs specialist tests. They may be considered when the diagnosis is unclear, bladder emptying is affected, symptoms are complex, previous treatment has failed or surgery is being considered.

NICE recommends at least three months of supervised pelvic-floor muscle training as first-line care for stress or mixed urinary incontinence. The programme should be individualised and technique checked.

General exercises may help, but some women squeeze the wrong muscles, hold their breath or need help with relaxation and coordination. Supervised pelvic-health physiotherapy can make the programme more specific.

They may help when relevant because abdominal pressure and repeated straining can worsen leakage. These measures should support, not replace, assessment and pelvic-floor care.

Nu-V is WHC’s fractional CO₂ vaginal laser procedure. It delivers controlled energy to selected vaginal tissue with the intention of prompting a local healing and remodelling response.

No. Laser does not exercise or directly strengthen pelvic-floor muscles. Its proposed action is on vaginal tissue response, which is why pelvic-floor rehabilitation remains important.

No cure or guaranteed improvement can be promised. Some women report benefit, others have little or no change, and symptoms may return. The likely cause and established alternatives should be discussed.

NICE recommends transvaginal laser therapy for stress urinary incontinence only in the context of research because evidence on long-term safety and efficacy is inadequate in quality and quantity.

WHC presents Nu-V as an optional private procedure for selected women and discusses the NICE limitation explicitly. Consultation should cover uncertainty, alternatives, risks and the possibility of no meaningful improvement before consent.

It may be discussed when leakage is stress-dominant, bothersome and usually mild to moderate; conservative care has been explored; safety checks are satisfactory; and the woman understands the evidence limitations.

It is not presented as routine treatment for urgency-dominant symptoms. Sudden urgency, frequency and night waking usually require a bladder-focused pathway, and mixed symptoms need individual assessment.

Treatment is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Postpartum recovery and future pregnancy plans should be discussed because pelvic tissues and symptoms can continue to change.

No procedure should proceed until an active infection is treated and unexplained bleeding, discharge or a lesion has been appropriately assessed.

Anticoagulants and antiplatelets require an individual medication and bleeding-risk review. Do not stop any prescribed medicine unless the responsible prescriber specifically tells you to do so.

You are positioned similarly to a cervical-screening examination. A sterile vaginal probe is used to deliver controlled fractional CO₂ energy. The laser application is usually brief within a longer clinical appointment.

The procedure is commonly performed without anaesthetic. Sensation varies and may include warmth, tingling or discomfort. Tell the practitioner if you need a pause or feel pain.

Temporary warmth, tenderness, spotting, watery discharge, swelling or irritation may occur. Less common risks include infection, bleeding, burns, scarring, persistent pain, altered sensation or painful intercourse.

Many women return to ordinary non-strenuous activity quickly. Written aftercare commonly advises avoiding vaginal intercourse, tampons, swimming and strenuous exercise for about five days or as individually directed.

There is no universal number. One session or a course of three may be discussed, but further treatment should depend on recovery, symptom review, safety and whether meaningful benefit is occurring.

Change should be assessed over an agreed period using the symptoms that matter to you, a bladder diary or questionnaires. No fixed timetable or degree of improvement can be guaranteed.

Duration is uncertain and varies. An annual top-up is a priced option, not an automatic recommendation or promise that benefit will last for a particular period.

The clinician should review the diagnosis, pelvic-floor care, urgency symptoms, prolapse and other contributing factors. The next step may be rehabilitation, another clinic option or specialist urogynaecology or urology referral.

No. WHC provides assessment and selected non-surgical care. Continence surgery, urethral bulking and prolapse repair require referral to an appropriate specialist service.

Current prices are £599 nurse-led or £799 doctor-led for one session; £1,200 nurse-led or £1,800 doctor-led for a course of three; and £400 nurse-led or £600 doctor-led for an annual top-up after reassessment. Consultation fees are listed above.