Urinary Incontinence

What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence, or uncontrolled bladder, is more common than most people think. In fact, more than 17 million Americans have urinary incontinence, with more than 80 percent of incontinence cases occuring in women.

What causes incontinence?

Anything that interferes with the normal processes of the urinary system can cause incontinence. Factors contributing to incontinence include medical conditions such as urinary tract infections, diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's; surgical problems such as birthing procedures, pelvic surgery, hysterectomy and multiple abdominal surgeries; medications such as cold and hay-fever medications, certain high blood pressure medications, pain medications, muscle relaxants and medications for depression and/or anxiety; certain exercises such as high-impact aerobics; or any injury to the nerves that control the bladder or activity that weakens the pelvic floor.

What are the types of incontinence?

There are five different types of urinary incontinence. The most common types are stress, urge and mixed incontinence. Stress incontinence is urine leakage caused by coughing, sneezing, exercising, lifting and strenuous activity. Stress incontinence can result from childbirth or certain surgeries and exercises that weaken the pelvic floor.

Urge incontinence occurs when people experience sudden, overwhelming urges to urinate, and often feel that they cannot wait to reach the bathroom. Urge incontinence can be the result of urinary tract infections, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, lack of estrogen, prior bladder surgery, medication or injury to the nerves that control the bladder. Urge incontinence also can develop without any apparent cause. Mixed incontinence is a combination of both stress and urge. The cause of both forms may or may not be related.

Less common forms of incontinence are functional and overflow incontinence. Functional incontinence occurs in people who are unable or unwilling to use a toilet. Severe illness, arthritis and confusion can all lead to functional incontinence. Overflow incontinence is when the bladder is never empty after urination, even though it may feel as if it is. Because the bladder does not completely empty, excess urine can spill out. Certain diseases, surgical procedures and medications that lead to other types of incontinence can also lead to overflow.

How is incontinence treated?

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