Condition
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. It is never normal and should not be considered a normal part of aging: several types exist, with different causes and treatments, ranging from a change in habits to surgery with mesh slings.
What is urinary incontinence?
It is defined as the involuntary loss of urine. What matters most about this condition is that it is never normal, nor should it be considered a normal part of aging. It is often related to inadequate urinary habits from a young age, such as holding in the urge to urinate and drinking too little water.
What types exist?
The most common types of urinary incontinence are:
- Stress incontinence
- Urge incontinence
- Mixed incontinence
- Overflow incontinence
How is each type treated?
Urge incontinence is often related to an overactive bladder: an intense, pressing need to urinate that cannot be held in before the involuntary loss occurs. Its treatment is usually medical, along with a change in urinary habits. Stress incontinence is caused by weakness of the pelvic floor, whether from tearing during childbirth, multiple pregnancies, or loss of muscle tone at menopause; this type does have a surgical solution, through the use of suburethral mesh slings. Mixed incontinence combines the two previous types. Overflow incontinence is related to an obstruction in the outflow of urine and is more common in men: the bladder fills completely and urine leaks constantly as it overflows through the prostate and urethra.
