Urinary Incontinence in Women
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. This leakage often occurs when you:
» cough
» laugh
» sneeze
» have sudden urges to go to the bathroom and can't get
there in time
Incontinence is not a disease but a symptom of a problem with the lower urinary tract, and it is very common, especially among older adults. Typically, urinary incontinence does not cause major health problems, but it can be embarrassing and can affect a woman's self-esteem and confidence.
Urinary incontinence, or the uncontrollable leakage of urine, affects thousands of women every year. Types and causes of urinary incontinence can be associated with age and lifestyle. Less than 2 in 10 women seek help for incontinence due to embarrassment, perception age-related conditions, or a lack of knowledge and awareness about treatment. Incontinence is a treatable condition.
The following are the most common types of urinary incontinence in women:
There are actually five types of urinary incontinence, but the majority of women either experience stress incontinence or urge incontinence.
Stress incontinence is a condition that primarily affects younger women. You may experience small amounts of urine loss when you sneeze, cough, run or engage in other physical activities that may put pressure on the bladder. Stress incontinence is caused when the tissues that support the bladder or the muscles of the urethra get weak. Pregnancy, excess weight and hysterectomy can increase the risk for stress incontinence.
With urge incontinence, you may have a sudden strong urge to void and leaks urine before you can get to the bathroom. This is sometimes called overactive bladder. It occurs if the muscles of the bladder are too active and contract too often. It also can be caused by problems with the nerves that send signals to the bladder. You may leak urine when they eat certain foods, drink water or when you hear or touch running water.
