By Amanda Savage, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist and Advisor to Kegel8

When we think of urination and sex, our minds don’t immediately run to incontinence. Squirting, fetishes and UTI-prevention are but a few more widely discussed links between the two.

Coital incontinence is experienced when sexual participants urinate during intercourse or masturbation involuntarily, not to be confused with purposeful sexual acts involving wee.

So, when some 400 million people worldwide suffer incontinence, and 92 percent of surveyed sufferers experience it sexually too, why is this disorder so little discussed?

Well, this suggests it’s still a taboo subject, despite the amount of people it affects.

At Kegel8, we want to de-stigmatise this all-too-natural issue. That’s why Amanda Savage, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, is here help.

Why coital incontinence may occur

Unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive answer yet.

Due to a lack of research in this area, it remains unclear as to why people can suffer incontinence during sex. It has been suggested, however, that it’s likely it can generally be a symptom of a wider problem.

There are two types of incontinence that may expand into coital: urinary and stress.

Some women can experience urine leakage at different points of their sexual experience, too. While some may encounter this throughout coitus, others find it only affects them as they orgasm, and some unlucky sufferers may have both.

Ultimately, urinary leakage, coupled with a weak pelvic floor, can trigger urinary incontinence.

Stress incontinence, however, is more about the pressure that is put on your bladder and pelvic floor from activity. This could be something as trivial as sneezing, coughing, laughing… or in this case, sex.

How to identify incontinence in yourself

The lines can sometimes be blurred when it comes to incontinence, particularly in women.

Female ejaculation can be an off-white fluid that is either produced on its own or mixed with urine, which can often make it difficult to differentiate between leakage and arousal.

If you’re concerned that you may be experiencing coital incontinence, acknowledge whether the fluid you’ve released has a scent. If you can detect a smell of urine, unfortunately this may be a sign of incontinence as healthy female ejaculation is fairly odourless.

Staying sexually active

According to research, only 9% of surveyed respondents said they would voluntarily tell people about their issues with incontinence. This suggests there are still feelings of shame surrounding the issue, so many will be looking for ways to combat the issue.

For the more adventurous, try having sex in the shower. This removes any worries of leakage, as the water will simply wash away any potential urine expulsion. Just be sure to take safety precautions, like purchasing an anti-slip matt and avoiding any oily products.

Empty your bladder and have a wee before and after you’re intimate. This is preventative for UTIs too, so being pedantic on this precaution is a win-win.

Most of all, remember communication with your partner is absolutely vital. Being open and honest about your disorder will help you to become more comfortable and make the sexual experience all the more enjoyable.

After all, sex isn’t just penetration. It’s feeling sexy, confident and secure while you enjoy some intimacy with a partner.

Preventing and curing the issue

Recently, doctors on TikTok have been warning against ‘peeing in the shower’, as this can train your bladder to need to empty when it hears running water, a step counter-productive for strengthening your pelvic floor.

Instead, ensure you always use the toilet in an up-right seated position when you need to urinate – and only when you really need to go. Going ‘just in case’ can weaken your pelvis just as much.

People can often forget, but your pelvic floor needs TLC. Incorporate Kegels and other pelvic floor exercises into your workout routine to keep your pelvis strong and healthy. For extra attention, consider purchasing a pelvic toner.