Urinary incontinence happens when you lose control of your bladder or experience general bladder weakness. In some cases, you may empty your bladder’s contents completely. In other cases, you may experience only minor leakage. The condition may be temporary or chronic, depending on its cause. If you’re having trouble with incontinence, don’t hesitate to see your doctor. In many situations, incontinence can be eliminated. Even if the condition can’t be completely eliminated, modern products and ways of managing urinary incontinence can ease your discomfort and inconvenience.
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence refers to the leakage of urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, jogging, or doing anything that causes the abdominal pressure transmitted to the bladder pressure to be stronger than the bladder’s closure mechanism (urethral sphincter).
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence is caused by sudden involuntary contraction of the bladder muscle and is associated with a strong desire to urinate and the inability to delay voiding long enough to get to a toilet. For this type, there is usually a small amount of urine loss at one time.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence is the frequent leakage of urine without the urge to void or the inability to urinate normal volumes. The amount of urine that exceeds the bladder’s capacity leaks out, but the bladder remains full.
Total Incontinence
Total incontinence is the complete absence of control, either continuous leakage or periodic uncontrolled emptying of the bladder’s contents.
Remember! Incontinence is not a disease, it is a symptom of something else going on in the body, and should be discussed with a healthcare professional who is interested in and knowledgeable about incontinence. Incontinence can always be cured or treated or even managed successfully.