Types of Urinary Incontinence in Women
Kidney Health Care - David Mangusan Jr., PTRP
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Many women experience involuntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence. There are several types of urinary incontinence that can affect women causing accidental leakage of urine.
Stress Incontinence
This type of incontinence is the most common among younger and middle-aged women. Sometimes, the condition may begin around the time of menopause and incidence of the condition increases after menopause. Most cases of stress incontinence can be successfully treated.
Stress incontinence happens when urine leaks as pressure is exerted on the bladder. Leakage of urine may occur during coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercise, or lifting heavy objects.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence happens when a person experiences sudden need to urinate but is not able to hold her urine long enough to get to the toilet in time. One common cause of urge incontinence is inappropriate bladder contractions or bladder spasms. These abnormal bladder contractions may be due to abnormal nerve signals to the bladder.
Abnormal bladder nerve signals can be caused by damage to the nerves of the bladder, to the brain or spinal cord, or to the muscles themselves. It is often, but not only, a problem for people who have diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
Overactive Bladder
This is a urinary incontinence type wherein abnormal nerves send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, causing the bladder muscles to squeeze without warning. Many women urinate normally up to seven times a day. However, women with overactive bladder may find that they must urinate even more often.
Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence is more common in the older population. They have normal bladder control; however, they may have a problem getting to the toilet in time because of an underlying condition.
This is more common in people who have medical problems that can interfere with moving, thinking, or communicating. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and arthritis.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder doesn’t empty properly, causing it to spill over. The condition rarely occurs in women. Weak bladder muscles or a blocked urethra can cause this type of incontinence.
Sources:
Urinary Incontinence in Women (October 2007). Retrieved on March 29, 2010, from http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uiwomen/.
Age Page: Urinary Incontinence (June 2008). Retrieved on March 29, 2010, from http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/urinary.htm.
Page Last Revised: November 22, 2010
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Stress Incontinence
This type of incontinence is the most common among younger and middle-aged women. Sometimes, the condition may begin around the time of menopause and incidence of the condition increases after menopause. Most cases of stress incontinence can be successfully treated.
Stress incontinence happens when urine leaks as pressure is exerted on the bladder. Leakage of urine may occur during coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercise, or lifting heavy objects.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence happens when a person experiences sudden need to urinate but is not able to hold her urine long enough to get to the toilet in time. One common cause of urge incontinence is inappropriate bladder contractions or bladder spasms. These abnormal bladder contractions may be due to abnormal nerve signals to the bladder.
Abnormal bladder nerve signals can be caused by damage to the nerves of the bladder, to the brain or spinal cord, or to the muscles themselves. It is often, but not only, a problem for people who have diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
Overactive Bladder
This is a urinary incontinence type wherein abnormal nerves send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, causing the bladder muscles to squeeze without warning. Many women urinate normally up to seven times a day. However, women with overactive bladder may find that they must urinate even more often.
Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence is more common in the older population. They have normal bladder control; however, they may have a problem getting to the toilet in time because of an underlying condition.
This is more common in people who have medical problems that can interfere with moving, thinking, or communicating. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and arthritis.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder doesn’t empty properly, causing it to spill over. The condition rarely occurs in women. Weak bladder muscles or a blocked urethra can cause this type of incontinence.
Sources:
Urinary Incontinence in Women (October 2007). Retrieved on March 29, 2010, from http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uiwomen/.
Age Page: Urinary Incontinence (June 2008). Retrieved on March 29, 2010, from http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/urinary.htm.
Page Last Revised: November 22, 2010
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