Urinary incontinence is a lack of urinary control. This causes a patient to leak urine. Most causes if incontinence can be treated.
Types of Incontinence
There are three main types of urinary incontinence. Stress incontinence is a loss of urine when doing physical activity that puts pressure on the bladder, such as sneezing or laughing. Urge incontinence causes a sudden urine loss with an urgent need to urinate. Overflow incontinence is a constant slight flow of urine and an inability to empty the bladder.
Incidence
Women tend to experience urinary incontinence more often then men, particularly because of the changes in the body that occur after pregnancy and childbirth. Around 13 million people in America suffer from the condition. The condition is more common in the elderly than the young.
Causes
Urinary incontinence can be caused by a variety of things. If the condition is chronic, it may be caused by birth defects or nerve disorders. Weakness of the bladder can also cause the condition. If the urethra is blocked, incontinence can occur. Weakness in the pelvic floor muscles can cause the condition. This is common in women after childbirth. Temporary incontinence can be caused by medications, urinary tract infections, and childbirth or pregnancy.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Like most urological conditions, the treatment of incontinence will depend on the cause. Diagnostic testing will be used to determine the cause. Exercise, surgery, injection therapy, medications, and bladder training can all be used to treat urinary incontinence, depending on the cause.
