Then, just as quickly, things seem to calm down. No more leaking. You sleep through the night again. And you start to think maybe you were imagining it, or maybe it was a little infection, or something you ate and just as you start to think it won’t happen again - yep, you’ve leaked. .
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This unpredictable cycle is what many women describe as the weak bladder rollercoaster. And because it’s not constant, it’s easy to dismiss as just one of those things. But the truth is, this stop-start pattern can be a major reason why women don’t seek support. In the moment, you feel desperate and resolute to seek help, maybe even making that call to the GP - but by the time you are ready for the appointment a week later, the symptoms have faded and you start to even wonder if you are overreacting. “It’s normal, isn’t it? Part of getting older. I don’t want to make a fuss.”
Here’s the reality: even if you’re not leaking or rushing to the loo every day, the times when you do are telling us something. You don’t need to have a constantly weak bladder to deserve treatment - and despite what we are conditioned to believe, a weak bladder, leaks and urgency are common but NOT normal, no matter our age. Understanding what could be triggering your bladder to switch between calm and chaos is the first step to getting back in control.
What causes a weak bladder to act up and then settle again?
One of the most common causes of these up-and-down bladder symptoms is stress. It’s something many of us live with daily, often without even realising how tightly we’re holding ourselves. When we’re under pressure, the pelvic floor can tense up. That tension affects how the bladder behaves, making it more reactive and more prone to urgency and leaks. When life settles down again, the symptoms ease - but if the stress returns, so do the bladder issues. It’s a cycle that can feel endless unless you know how to spot it.
How hormones affect your weak bladder
Hormonal changes are another big factor. In perimenopause and beyond, oestrogen levels fluctuate and decline. These hormonal shifts affect the tissues around the bladder and urethra, changing how they respond to pressure and urgency. Many women notice their bladder act ups around ovulation, during their period, or just before it starts. Even if you’re no longer having regular cycles, hormonal dips can still play a role in how your bladder behaves.
When intimacy triggers a weak bladder act up
Sex can also trigger leaks or urgency, especially if your pelvic floor is tight or if vaginal dryness is an issue. Sometimes, it’s irritation from friction. Other times, it’s down to subtle inflammation or post-intercourse sensitivity. It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong, but if it’s happening regularly, it’s worth mentioning to your GP or pelvic health physio. Don’t forget to always pee straight after sex, as this can help to clear out any bacteria that’s lingering.
Can a UTI leave you with a weak bladder?
Even once a urine infection clears, the bladder lining can stay irritated for days or even weeks. You might feel like you have another infection coming on, but when testing, the results are clear. This post-UTI sensitivity is more common than most people realise and often gets mistaken for a weak bladder or overactive bladder when in fact, it just needs time and the right support to heal. If it persists, speak to your GP and ask for a referral - especially if you are getting urine infections frequently.
The gut-bladder link: how digestion impacts a weak bladder
Constipation and bloating can also make bladder symptoms worse. When your bowel is full or your gut is sluggish, it puts pressure on the bladder, reducing the space it has to expand. That means more urgency, less control, and often more leaks. A few days of irregularity can easily tip things over into dashes for the loo - but once things start moving again, your bladder feels calmer.
Or is it the ‘time of the season’?
You might notice that there are particular times of the year when your bladder seems to act up and have a mind of its own - for example, hot weather can lead to dehydration, especially if you’re drinking less to avoid public toilets. At the same time, fizzy drinks, iced coffees, or BBQ foods might be creeping in and suddenly we’ve found new triggers that take us by surprise. In Winter, we naturally move less which can leave your gut sluggish and your pelvic floor a little weaker, and we tend to drink more hot drinks - including tea, coffee and hot chocolate that all contain caffeine. If your bladder is already sensitive, these small shifts can tip you into another act up.
You don’t have to live with a weak bladder – even if it comes and goes
You might have weeks or months where your bladder feels perfectly fine, followed by days where you feel like you’ve got a completely different body. That’s the weak bladder rollercoaster. But it doesn’t mean you’re imagining it, and it doesn’t mean you have to wait until things are at their worst to get help. In fact, if you are on the rollercoaster of a weak bladder it’s exactly the right time to seek help before things become a daily issue.
