Urinary Incontinence: Fast Facts

Reviewed By:
Joanne Poje Tomasulo, M.D., ACOG

• Urinary incontinence is the inability to control the passage of urine.
  
  
• It is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, not a disease in itself.
  
  
• The term "incontinence" alone can refer to both fecal incontinence and urinary incontinence, but is most commonly used in reference to urinary incontinence.
  
  
• Urinary incontinence affects more than 26 million Americans, nearly 80 percent of whom are women, according to the National Institutes of Health.
  
  
• It is more common in older adults, but it is not considered a normal part of the aging process.
  
  
• It occurs during a malfunction of the urinary system.
  
  
• There are several types of urinary incontinence, which are classified according to symptoms and circumstances of urine leakage.
  
  
• Stress incontinence occurs when an increase in pressure in the abdomen forces the urinary sphincter to open inappropriately and urine to leak.
  
  
• Pressure can occur due to activities such as exercise, laughing, sneezing or coughing.
  
  
• Urge incontinence occurs when the bladder contracts when it should not.
  
  
• Urge incontinence causes an abrupt, overwhelming urge to urinate followed by urine leakage.
  
  
• Mixed incontinence occurs when you have more than one type of incontinence.
  
  
• Mixed incontinence usually involves stress and urge incontinence.
  
  
• There are many possible causes for urinary incontinence.
  
  
• Causes that are temporary and easily addressed include drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, taking certain types of medications or having a urinary tract infection.
  
  
• Among conditions that can lead to chronic incontinence are pregnancy and childbirth, hormonal changes following menopause and neurological disorders.
  
  
• There are a number of medical tests that may be performed to diagnose the cause of urinary incontinence.
  
  
• The treatment of incontinence depends on the severity of the problem and its underlying cause.
  
  
• Treatment can be divided into four categories -- behavioral techniques, medications, medical devices and surgery.
  
  
• In some people, incontinence cannot be prevented because its cause is out of their control.
  
  
• Other cases can be prevented.
  
  
• Prevention techniques include losing weight, doing special pelvic muscle exercises and avoiding beverages that increase the rate of urine production.