Urethral Hypermobility: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment Options

Urethral hypermobility is a condition where the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, is abnormally mobile or loose. This can lead to urinary incontinence, which is the involuntary leakage of urine. Urethral hypermobility can be caused by connective tissue disorders, childbirth, or other factors that weaken the muscles and ligaments that support the urethra. Symptoms of urethral hypermobility can include stress incontinence (leakage during activities like laughing or coughing) and urge incontinence (leakage due to a sudden, strong urge to urinate). Diagnosis involves urodynamic testing, which evaluates the function of the urethra and bladder. Treatment options range from pelvic floor muscle exercises to urethral bulking agents and sling surgery, depending on the severity of the incontinence.