New Delhi Aug, 2025 – Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is emerging as a growing yet overlooked health challenge among Indian women. A recent regional study has found that 22.5% of women in North India suffer from this condition — a significant proportion that underlines the urgent need for awareness, medical attention, and community support.
SUI refers to the involuntary leakage of urine during physical movements or exertion, such as coughing, sneezing, lifting, or laughing. It results from weakened pelvic floor muscles and poor urethral support, often due to childbirth trauma, menopause, obesity, or age-related changes. While it may not always be life-threatening, it can deeply affect a woman’s quality of life, self-esteem, and mental well-being.
Despite its high prevalence, SUI is rarely discussed, even among women experiencing its symptoms. Shame, embarrassment, and fear of being judged often prevent them from seeking medical help. In fact, multiple studies reinforce the widespread nature of the issue. The International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health reported that stress incontinence accounted for 43.7% of all urinary incontinence cases, with an overall prevalence of 27.1%. A study in the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health revealed that 15.9% of surveyed women suffered from SUI, while research published in the Istanbul Medical Journal found that 57.3% of women attending a tertiary care hospital experienced the condition.
These findings indicate a pressing need for public health systems, gynaecologists, and urologists to prioritize early screening and intervention for women, especially in postnatal and menopausal stages.
According to Dr Ankur Singhal (Senior Consultant and Unit Head, Kailash Deepak Hospital ) (MBBS – Gold Medalist, MS, M.Ch. Urology, MRCS – London, UK), the issue is more than a urological problem. “Stress urinary incontinence is a multidimensional condition that impacts a woman physically, emotionally, and socially. Many women suffer silently for years because they feel embarrassed or dismiss the condition as a natural consequence of childbirth or aging. But this is a treatable condition. With the right evaluation, lifestyle changes, pelvic floor physiotherapy, and when needed, minimally invasive surgery, we can restore normalcy to their lives. The real issue lies in breaking the stigma. I’ve seen countless women who delay seeking help until the problem starts affecting their daily routines—some even avoid stepping out or going to work due to fear of leakage. We must empower them with the knowledge that help is available and normalize talking about such intimate yet impactful health concerns.”
The good news is that with increased awareness and early treatment, women can regain control over their lives. Public health campaigns, doctor-patient conversations, and women’s health programs must all include urinary health as a core component—not a footnote. It is time to treat stress incontinence not just as a condition, but as a call to action for women’s dignity and well-being.
Expert Highlights Alarming Rise of Stress Incontinence in 22.5% of North Indian Women
Research spotlights an often-ignored condition that silently affects women’s health and dignity.