Urinary incontinence
The involuntary leakage of urine is known as urinary incontinence. It means a person urinates when they do not want to.
Causes for urinary incontinence
Incontinence can result from a congenital disability in the bladder, a spinal injury, or a tiny, tunnel-like hole between the bladder and a nearby area (fistula).
Stress incontinence occurs when urine leaks out when the bladder is under pressure, such as when you cough or laugh.
Urge incontinence occurs when urine leaks due to a sudden, intense urge to pee.
Overflow incontinence (chronic urinary retention) occurs when one cannot fully empty the bladder, resulting in frequent leaking.
Total incontinence occurs when the bladder cannot store urine, causing you to pass urine or experience frequent leaking constantly.
Treatments for urinary incontinence
Non-surgical procedure
Initially, the doctor may recommend some simple measures to see if they help alleviate symptoms.
These could include:
- Lifestyle changes such as losing weight
- Reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption.
- Pelvic floor exercises, which strengthen your pelvic floor muscles by squeezing them.
- Bladder training, in which you learn how to wait longer between urinations.
Surgical incontinence
The type of incontinence will determine the appropriate procedures.
Treatment involves:
- Surgical treatment for stress incontinence-sling procedure relieves pressure.
- On the bladder or strengthens the muscles that control urination.
- Surgery to treat urge incontinence may involve enlarging the bladder with a device stimulating the nerve that controls the detrusor muscles.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022