URINARY INCONTINENCE
Mixed symptoms: understand your symptoms and your options
Mixed symptoms involves both stress incontinence (leakage with physical activity) and urgency symptoms (a sudden, strong need to urinate). Find out more about what this means and how our private EMS service may be suitable for you.
A private service with information provided in a straightforward and respectful way.
Understand the service, the evidence and the factors that may affect suitability.
Use a private consultation to discuss the service and understand what to expect.
COULD THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
Common signs of urinary incontinence
Urinary leakage can present in different ways. The pattern matters because stress, urgency, mixed and other forms of urinary incontinence can have different underlying factors and management approaches.
Leakage with activity
Leakage may occur during activities such as coughing, laughing, sneezing or lifting.
A sudden need to urinate
A strong or sometimes difficult-to-delay need to urinate, which can lead to leakage.
A combination of both
You may experience both stress-related and urgency symptoms at different times.
When to seek advice
If symptoms are new, worsening or affecting daily life, consider speaking with your GP or another qualified healthcare professional.
What is urinary incontinence?
Stress incontinence
Urgency symptoms
Mixed symptoms
Treatment depends on the type of incontinence
Assessment
A GP or healthcare professional in Exeter locality can assess your symptoms and medical history.
Pelvic-floor and bladder approaches
Other clinical options
Medicines, procedures or surgery may be considered depending on the type of incontinence and how symptoms respond to initial management.
Discuss private EMS suitability
Our Exeter private EMS service can be explained separately. Suitability depends on individual circumstances and the specific equipment and protocol being used.
The appropriate management approach depends on the symptoms, underlying cause and clinical assessment.
IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING PRIVATE EMS
A straightforward process
Consultation
Discuss your symptoms, relevant history and any questions about the service with our Exeter team.
Suitability
We’ll discuss the information you provide and whether the service is appropriate to explore further.
Treatment session
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Book a consultation
Get clear information about urinary incontinence and the private EMS service, including where medical assessment may be appropriate.
SUITABILITY & SAFETY
Important information about urinary incontinence and EMS
Our service may be suitable for many people, but it is not appropriate for everyone. Suitability depends on your individual circumstances, and we may recommend that you speak to a GP or other qualified healthcare professional near you Exeter.
Key considerations
Certain circumstances may require medical advice
Device-specific safety information should be checked
Speak to a GP if your symptoms need assessment
If urinary incontinence is new, persistent, unexplained or troublesome, speak with a GP or another qualified healthcare professional.
Your questions, answered
Clear, practical answers about mixed urinary incontinence, recognised management approaches and where our private EMS service fits.
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence means passing urine unintentionally. It can occur in different patterns, including stress, urgency and mixed urinary incontinence, and the underlying cause can vary.
What are the common types of urinary incontinence?
Stress incontinence involves leakage when pressure is placed on the bladder, such as during coughing, laughing or exercise. Urgency incontinence involves a sudden, difficult-to-delay need to urinate that may be followed by leakage. Some people experience mixed symptoms.
What treatments are normally considered first?
Management depends on the type and cause. NHS guidance describes conservative approaches including pelvic-floor muscle training and bladder training. NICE recommends supervised pelvic-floor muscle training for at least 3 months as first-line treatment for women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence, and bladder training as a first-line approach for women with urgency or mixed urinary incontinence.
Sources: NHS — Non-surgical treatment · NICE NG123
Is pelvic-floor muscle training relevant to urinary incontinence?
Yes. NICE recommends a supervised pelvic-floor muscle training programme of at least 3 months as first-line treatment for women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence. The programme should be based on assessment rather than assuming the same exercise approach is appropriate for everyone.
Source: NICE NG123
Can bladder training help with urgency symptoms?
Yes. NICE recommends bladder training lasting at least 6 weeks as a first-line approach for women with urgency or mixed urinary incontinence. The appropriate approach depends on the person’s symptoms and clinical assessment.
Sources: NICE NG123 · NHS — Non-surgical treatment
Where does private EMS fit if I have urinary incontinence?
Having urinary incontinence does not, by itself, establish that electromagnetic pelvic-floor stimulation is suitable. Incontinence Direct can explain its private mobile EMS service and relevant suitability information, but it does not diagnose the cause of symptoms or replace appropriate medical assessment. Published research on HIFEM should not be converted into a guaranteed outcome for an individual.
Further information: PubMed — 2025 systematic review
Reliable. Evidence-informed.
We base our information on recognised sources, including NHS and NICE guidance, and published research on electromagnetic stimulation.
Incontinence Direct Exeter is an independent provider.
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or part of the NHS or NICE.
