What is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine. It is not a normal part of aging.
Incontinence may be the result of:
- Pelvic Floor Prolapse
- Child Birth
- Prostate Surgeries
- Stroke
- Prior Surgeries
- Radiation Treatments
- Diabetes
- UTI’s
- Medications
- Neurological Disorders (such as Multiple Sclerosis)
- Parkinson’s Disease
Types of Incontinence
There are five types of incontinence. However, the two most common are referred to as stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
Stress Incontinence occurs when the sphincter or pelvic floor muscles have been weakened, causing the bladder to leak during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or any body movement that increases abdominal pressure. This type of incontinence commonly affects women following childbirth or menopause.
Urge Incontinence is the urgent need to pass urine and the inability to get to a toilet on time. It occurs when there is a sudden bladder contraction that cannot be consciously inhibited.