Urology: Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence

Classification

  • Stress Incontinence
  • Urgency Incontinence (Overactive Bladder with Incontinence)
  • Mixed Incontinence
  • Overflow Incontinence

Stress Incontinence

  • Involuntary Urine Leakage with Increased Intraabdominal Pressures
    • Ex: Exertion, Cough, Sneeze or Laugh
  • Cause: Hypermobile Urethra & Loss of Sphincter Tone
  • Most Common in Younger Women (Age 45-49)

Urgency Incontinence (Overactive Bladder with Incontinence)

  • Sudden Strong Urge to Void with Immediate Urine Leakage
  • Cause: Detrusor Overactivity
  • Most Common in Older Women

Mixed Incontinence

  • Combination of Both Stress Incontinence & Urgency Incontinence
  • Rare in Males

Overflow Incontinence

  • Continuous Urine Leakage or “Dribbling” Due to Incomplete Emptying
  • Cause: Detrusor Underactivity & Bladder Outlet Obstruction
  • Most Common in Men with BPH

Treatment

  • Initial Treatments:
    • Lifestyle Modification
    • Pelvic Floor Strengthening (Kegel Exercises) – May Be Used in Both Men & Women
    • Bladder Training
  • Options If Fails:
    • Pharmacotherapy
    • Pessary Device (For Stress Incontinence in Women)
    • Surgery