Dribbling or leaking urine is a condition called urinary incontinence. There are two kinds of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Both are caused by problems with the ligaments and muscles supporting the bladder. Stress incontinence is usually caused by damage, weakness, or overstretching of the muscles that hold the bladder in place. These muscles are called the pelvic floor muscles. This problem occurs most often in women after childbirth and in men after prostate problems. Urge incontinence is also caused by a problem with one particular muscle around the bladder called the detrusor muscle. This muscle may contract at the wrong time, causing urine to leak out of the bladder.

With stress incontinence, any activity that puts pressure on the bladder can cause urine to leak out. This is the type of incontinence you've described. It can also happen in some people when laughing or sneezing, lifting heavy items or weights, or quickly changing positions (standing up after sitting).

There are many treatment ideas that can help with this problem. The first step is to see a physician, physical therapist, or nurse who specializes in these kinds of problems. Once you have been evaluated and the specific cause or causes have been identified, treatment can be started. Exercises and electrical stimulation can be used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Other options include a special device to help hold the bladder in place, called a pessary. If these measures don't help, surgery may be recommended.