Other Types of Urinary Incontinence

Less Common Than SUI But Sometimes Combined

Urinary incontinence is defined as an involuntarily release of urine, whether it is a few drops, constant dribble or complete voiding of urine.

Both males and females may experience this condition; however, for purposes of this discussion, we will focus primarily on female incontinence.

There are five types of female incontinence, in some cases, you may have more than one type of incontinence.

1. Stress Urinary Incontinence

As we have discussed, Stress Urinary Incontinence is the most common type of incontinence experienced by women. The term ‘stress’ refers to the increase in abdominal pressure that occurs when coughing, sneezing, laughing, and lifting heavy objects.

During ‘stress’ related movements, the urethra (tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside of the body) does not sufficiently seal in order to retain all of the urine in the bladder. This in turn results in leaking.

Common causes of stress incontinence includes multiple pregnancies, vaginal deliveries, chronic coughing, obesity, smoking and age.

2. Urge Incontinence and Overactive Bladder

Urge incontinence (sometimes called Overactive Bladder or OAB) is defined as a sudden, overwhelming need to urinate.

Typically one only has a window of a few seconds before urine is released. Urge can be triggered by hearing running water or arriving home where one can void.

Cause of urge incontinence is due to bladder spasms or contractions.

Overactive bladder symptoms include the need to void greater than eight times a day. Symptoms may include urgency and frequency along with the need to void during the night.

3. Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence is a combination of two or more symptoms, typically urge and stress incontinence. Most women that suffer from incontinence often have both sets of symptoms.

4. Overflow Incontinence

This condition is very common in older males, and rare in females. Overflow incontinence is a condition where the bladder never fully empties and small amounts of urine leak continuously.

The main causes of overflow incontinence are BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) in males and weak bladder muscles, tumors or urinary stones in females.

5. Functional Incontinence

Functional incontinence affects people with medical problems stemming from conditions that affect mobility, communication or thought process.

Bladder function is normal, however, voiding is affected by co-existing medical issues. People that suffer from arthritis, are wheel-chair bound or have Alzheimer’s have a limited ability to react in time to void in a normal manner.