Nearly 35 million women suffer from stress urinary incontinence, which causes involuntary loss of urine when physical movements, such as laughing, coughing or sneezing, put pressure on the bladder. 

Stress urinary incontinence can occur for a number of reasons, urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman explains, including weakened pelvic floor muscles following pregnancy and childbirth, urethral thinning due to menopause, and excess pressure on the bladder due to obesity.

Additionally, behaviors such as smoking, drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol, or consuming spicy or acidic foods can trigger leaks.

The good news is surgery isn’t the only option to treat this embarrassing condition. Family medicine physician Dr. Rachael Ross explains how regularly performing Kegel exercises can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. 

Related: How to do Kegel exercises

Dr. Berman adds that a new, revolutionary, over-the-counter product called Poise Impressa Bladder Supports also can help prevent embarrassing bladder leaks. The device, which is inserted into the vagina like a tampon, gently lifts the urethra without impacting the normal flow of vaginal secretions. 

The Doctors recruited three women suffering from stress urinary incontinence to put the new device to the test. Hear what they have to say: