Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is leaking of urine that you can’t control. Many American men and women suffer from urinary incontinence. We don’t know for sure exactly how many. That’s because many people do not tell anyone about their symptoms. They may be embarrassed, or they may think nothing can be done. So they suffer in silence.
Urinary incontinence is not just a medical problem. It can affect emotional, psychological and social life. Many people who have urinary incontinence are afraid to do normal daily activities. They don’t want to be too far from a toilet. Urinary incontinence can keep people from enjoying life.
Many people think urinary incontinence is just part of getting older. But it’s not. And it can be managed or treated. Learn more here. Talk to Dr. Matson to find out what treatment is best for you.
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine that occurs during physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. In stress incontinence, the sphincter muscle and the pelvic muscles, which support the bladder and urethra, are weakened. The sphincter is not able to prevent urine flow when there is increased pressure from the abdomen (such as when you cough, laugh, or lift something heavy).
Stress incontinence may occur as a result of weakened pelvic muscles that support the bladder and urethra or because of a malfunction of the urethral sphincter. The weakness may be caused by:
- Injury to the urethral area
- Some medications
- Surgery of the prostate or pelvic area
Stress urinary incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women. Stress incontinence is often seen in women who have had multiple pregnancies and vaginal childbirths, and whose bladder, urethra, or rectal wall stick out into the vagina (pelvic prolapse).
Risk factors for stress incontinence include:
- Being female
- Childbirth
- Chronic coughing (such as chronic bronchitis and asthma)
- Getting older
- Obesity
- Smoking
Symptoms
The main symptom of stress incontinence is involuntary loss of urine. It may occur when:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Standing
- Exercising
- Engaging in other physical activity
- Engaging in sexual intercourse
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence is leakage of urine due to bladder muscles that contract inappropriately. Often these contractions occur regardless of the amount of urine that is in the bladder.
Urge incontinence may result from:
- Bladder cancer
- Bladder inflammation
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Bladder stones
- Infection
- Neurological diseases (such as multiple sclerosis)
- Neurological injuries (such as spinal cord injury or stroke)
In most cases of urge incontinence, no specific cause can be identified. Although urge incontinence may occur in anyone at any age, it is more common in women and the elderly.
Symptoms
- Frequent urination, in the daytime and at night
- Involuntary loss of urine
- Sudden and urgent need to urinate (urinary urgency)
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