Women swap secrets about lots of things , but pee problems can seem like TMI . This is one time we should follow a reality star 's lead : Kris Jenner discussed her leakage on `` Keeping Up With The Kardashians . '' The truth is , even young , fit women ( who have n't popped out six kids like Kris has ) have urologic troubles . And with all the simple solutions out there , there 's no reason to hold it in . Read on for reassurance and to get relief down there . ' I dribble when I laugh , run , sneeze , cough ' This is a classic sign of stress urinary incontinence ( SUI ) , which one-third of women experience , according to the American Urological Association . `` The issue is typically weakness in the sphincter , which controls the opening to the bladder , or in the pelvic floor , '' the muscles and ligaments that hold pelvic organs in place and support the bladder , says Dr. Kathleen C. Kobashi , head of the section of urology and renal transplantation at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle . Pregnancy , childbirth , age , and chronic constipation can all weaken those muscles . You 're also more likely to have SUI if you 're a heavy exerciser , a smoker , are overweight or have a genetic predisposition . No matter what the cause , you do n't have to put up with leakage . Start with pelvic-floor exercises , a.k.a . Kegels , twice a day . A quick refresher from Missy Lavender , founder and board president of Women 's Health Foundation : . -- Relax your glutes , thighs , and vaginal muscles . -- Squeeze your pelvic-floor muscles up and in for five counts , like you 're trying to stop peeing mid-stream ; relax for five . Repeat 10 times . They can work in the moment , too : Contracting when you feel a sneeze coming on can block urine from escaping , says Dr. Karen Noblett , professor and division director for urogynecology at the University of California -- Irvine . If Kegels do n't help , a doctor may prescribe a urethral insert , a vaginal device called a pessary , or medication . A procedure can also be done to insert a supportive `` hammock '' under the urethra . Health.com : Got ta go ? 13 reasons for urine trouble . ' I get way too many UTIs ' You 're in good company . Up to a quarter of women with a history of urinary-tract infections ( UTIs ) are likely to have a recurrence within six months , according to a study in the `` Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada . '' `` A woman 's urethra is short and close to the vagina and rectum , where bacteria live , '' Dr. Noblett says . That makes it easy for them to travel up into the bladder , where they can cause symptoms such as urine that burns or is cloudy or bloody ; back , belly , or side pain ; and urges to go when you do n't have to . Often , recurrent UTIs are linked to having sex . Being in perimenopause or menopause can make you more vulnerable to them , too . UTIs are usually treated with antibiotics . Even if you 're positive you have one , though , head to your gyno rather than asking her to call in a prescription -- you might really have interstitial cystitis , which has similar symptoms , but ca n't be treated with antibiotics . Plus , there 's been a major jump in cases of UTIs that are resistant to the two most common antibiotics used to treat them , and taking the meds when you do n't need them increases this resistance . A simple culture can confirm it is a UTI and determine what kind of antibiotic you need . Luckily , little lifestyle tweaks can make you less prone . A few loo basics : Peeing before and after sex and wiping from front to back after a bowel movement all help remove UTI-causing bacteria . What about cranberry juice ? Experts now agree that it probably wo n't knock out an infection . The good news : Drinking 5 ounces of real cranberry juice ( not the cocktail kind ) twice a day may give you an edge in dodging recurrent infections , a new review of research reveals . Health.com : 10 ways to keep your bladder healthy . ' I had a kidney stone -- and I live in fear of more ' While men are their main victims , the incidence of kidney stones in American women has nearly doubled in the past two decades , a new study shows . These hard masses form when certain chemicals in pee become too concentrated . The resulting stone can cause excruciating symptoms ( like back pain and vomiting ) . No one knows exactly why stones form , but dehydration and diet may play a role , especially in those with a family history . Obesity is also linked to them . If you experience extreme lower back pain along with nausea , vomiting , or a fever , head to the ER -- you could have a serious infection , says Dr. Charles D. Scales Jr. , a clinical scholar in UCLA 's department of medicine and urology . For lesser symptoms , call your doctor . And prevent stones by drinking lots of water , lowering your sodium and meat intake , and getting the daily recommended 1,000 milligrams of calcium . If that does n't work , your doc can prescribe drugs to help you feel better , fast .
Doing Kegel exercises twice a day will help prevent bladder leakage . A simple culture can confirm a UTI and most are treatable with antibiotics . The number of women with kidney stones has nearly doubled in the last 20 years .