What is incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the leakage of small amounts of urine or frequent and sometimes uncontrollable urination.

Urinary incontinence is common in women. It frequently occurs as women age, but it is not a natural consequence of aging. Younger women of childbearing age and female athletes may also experience incontinence.

You shouldn’t be embarrassed by incontinence. All types of urinary incontinence can be treated, but early intervention is very important.

• Stress Incontinence

  Coughing, laughing, heavy lifting and strenuous activities can bring on urine leakage in women with stress incontinence. This form of the condition is usually caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles (the muscles that surround and support the urethra and bladder). This weakening of the pelvic floor muscles is sometimes caused by childbirth and/or surgery.

• Urge incontinence

  This type of incontinence occurs when the muscle wall of the bladder is overactive. Women who experience urge incontinence may have the sudden urge to urinate and often can’t make it to the bathroom in time. Also known as overactive bladder, this form of incontinence can be due to infections in the bladder or urethra and muscle spasms from a variety of causes.

• Mixed Incontinence

  Many women experience both urge and stress incontinence. This is called mixed incontinence. In this mixed form of incontinence, the two types of incontinence may be caused by different factors and must be examined and treated independently.

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