We're answering all the questions about these three little letters.

LBL. Three little letters that most will either find laden with fear and anxiety, or just plain confusing.

Even in an office full of women, many of us were in the dark when it came to understanding what Light Bladder Leakage really is, and what the implications are for those who experience it.

We sat down with Lyn Rohweder – a registered nurse who is passionate about alleviating the stigma of LBL – to bring the issue to light.

What is LBL?

“Light Bladder Leakage (LBL) occurs when you experience slight urine leakage that you can’t control due to activities such as exercise, sneezing, coughing or laughing,” explains Rohweder.

Who does LBL affect?

LBL can affect anyone who has a weak pelvic floor. It affects one in five people – including men – but it affects women more frequently, with one in three women experiencing LBL in their lifetime.

“There’s a misconception that LBL only happens after childbirth,” says Rohweder. “While it is more common for women to experience after having children, it is also quite common to experience LBL during menopause. This is due to the hormonal changes occurring in our bodies that causes a weakening of the pelvic floor.”

How do you know whether you have LBL?

“Most women that have experienced LBL know that ‘whoops’ feeling – it happens when you’ve laughed or sneezed and you’ve accidentally let a little urine out,” explains Rohweder. “That’s the indication that most people will experience.”

It can happen when you laugh or sneeze. Image via iStock.

How much urine loss is experienced during LBL?

This question intrigued the women in the office above all else – will you experience a light spray, or a few teaspoons of urine?

“It’s quite difficult to measure how much urine loss is experienced during LBL, and it depends on the person. It could vary anywhere between a few drops to a light stream, but not a full bladder’s worth of urine – that would be classified as a more severe type of incontinence, which is quite different to LBL – so it’s best to speak to your GP about how you can take control of that matter” explains Rohweder.

“The best way to describe LBL is that after you experience ‘whoops’ feeling, you know that your underwear is wet and it makes you feel uncomfortable.”

How does LBL affect people who experience it?

“LBL affects people socially, emotionally and psychologically – but it certainly doesn’t have to,” states Rohweder.

“Many people may stop participating in normal, everyday activities – even things they once loved doing. I know women who would stop exercising, stop meeting up with friends or going to mothers’ groups out of fear of what happens if they laugh too hard or they sneeze, so they have a tendency to socially isolate themselves and experience a loss of independence due to the stigma that’s attached to it.”

While it’s easy to understand why people who experience LBL would feel this way, no one should have to live in constant fear like this, and should be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Which leads us to ask…

You should be able to live life to the fullest. Image via iStock.

Is it possible to overcome LBL?

Most people who experience LBL are absolutely able to overcome it, and it comes down to one simple solution: strengthening your pelvic floor.

“The best way to overcome LBL is by conducting pelvic floor exercises. As your pelvic floor is a muscle, you can strengthen it over time, which means that for many people, they stop experiencing LBL altogether,” explains Rohweder.

What can you do to take control of LBL before you’ve fully strengthened your pelvic floor?

“As it takes time and regular exercise to strengthen any muscle group, LBL won’t go away overnight. While women are going through that process of regaining control of their pelvic floor, I always recommend Poise products to help women reclaim their lives in the meantime. Poise liners and pads have been especially designed to absorb urine and keep you feeling dry and comfortable so you can get on with your day, without having to forgo any of the activities that you love doing – like playing with your kids, or laughing too hard with your girlfriends.”

Strengthening your pelvic floor can help you to overcome symptoms. Image via iStock.

Can you use ordinary sanitary products to combat LBL?

Sanitary products and light bladder leakage products may seem similar, but they have been designed differently due to their different functions.

“Due to the difference in salinity of menstrual flow and urine, ordinary sanitary products aren’t as effective for absorbing urine, meaning it can often leave the wearer feeling wet and uncomfortable,” explains Rohweder.

“However, Poise products are more absorbent than regular sanitary products, so they can be used to combat LBL and keep you dry and comfortable, as well as deal with the normal demands of your period during menstruation, so you can use them every day to take control of both matters.”

How do you conduct pelvic floor exercises?

There are lots of interesting descriptions when it comes to explaining pelvic floor exercises, such as likening them to imagining your pelvic floor as an elevator that you are lifting up and down. But how do you do them? And how often?

“Pelvic floor exercises are actually really easy, and can be done anywhere – whether you’re sitting or standing, on the bus or train to work, or lying down in bed at night,” explains Rohweder.

“Just imagine that you are trying to stop yourself from passing urine, and you hold it in – that’s how you activate your pelvic floor. You don’t need to squeeze too hard, but just hold it for as long as you can, and slowly release. Repeat this process for a few minutes as often as you can, and for as long as you need. At least once a day is a great way to start,” explains Rohweder, “Just make sure you’re not engaging your core while you do this, because otherwise you’d be exercising your abs, not your pelvic floor.”

For more information (and video tutorials – yay!) about how to properly conduct pelvic floor exercises, check out this helpful page.

How do you treat your LBL?