Which conservative management strategies are recommended for stress urinary incontinence in women?

Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is recommended as the first-line management for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), with a trial of supervised PFMT lasting at least 3 months.

It should include at least 8 contractions performed 3 times daily, with most evidence supporting a duration of around 3 months.

Supervised PFMT programs with trained healthcare professionals can significantly improve symptoms and may help women avoid surgery or invasive treatments ¹,².

Additional conservative strategies include lifestyle modifications such as weight loss for women with BMI over 30, reducing caffeine intake, and modifying fluid intake, which can help improve symptoms ³.

If symptoms persist despite conservative management, referral for further assessment or consideration of surgical options may be appropriate ¹,².