Bladder Leaks and Depression or Anxiety: What Studies Show

Leaking urine can shape where you go, what you wear and who you tell. Studies suggest it’s also tied to mood, and that the link may run in both directions.

How strong the link is

A 2020 review pooled 12 studies of 31,462 people:¹

• Depression was about twice as likely in people who leak.¹
• Anxiety was about 1.5 times as likely.¹

In a survey of 3,536 women aged 30 to 90 in Washington State, 45% had some leaking, and current major depression was one of the two strongest links, alongside obesity.²

These were snapshots, so they can’t show which came first.¹

Which comes first?

Two long studies followed women over time:

Study	Depression led to new leaks?	Leaks led to new depression?
Norway, 16,263 women over 10 years	Yes, about twice the odds with moderate or severe symptoms3	Yes, modestly3
US, 5,820 women around age 59, over 6 years	Yes, about 1.5 times the odds4	No clear link4

The Norwegian study found the more severe the depression or anxiety, the higher the risk of starting to leak.³ The US study didn’t find that leaking raised the risk of new depression.⁴ So depression looks like a risk factor for leaking in both, and the reverse is less certain.

Why they might be linked

The studies didn’t test causes. Possible connections include shared risks like weight and other health problems,² avoiding activity and people because of leaks, and the brain’s role in bladder control. Treat these as ideas, not findings.

What this means for you

1. Mention both. If leaks and low mood are part of your week, raise both at the same visit. One doesn’t cancel out the other.
2. Treat the leaks. Pelvic floor training and bladder training work for many women; see can pelvic floor exercises help? and bladder training.
3. Ask about your medicines. If you take something for mood and your leaks changed, ask your prescriber rather than stopping it.
4. Talk about it. Leaks are common, and saying so can make them less isolating.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number.

Try: “I’ve been leaking more this year, and I’ve also been feeling low and anxious. Can we look at both today?”

Laugh, Sneeze, Jump covers this in Chapter 1, “Crossed Legs and Dark Leggings,” in a section called “The Price of Quiet.” Its Three-Day Read, a short bladder diary, gives you leaks, urges and timing on paper to bring to that visit. See the book.