Urological Disorders

Urinary Incontinence

What is urinary incontinence (UI)?

Urinary incontinence (UI) is the loss of urine control, or the inability to hold your urine until you can reach a toilet. More than 13 million people in the United States experience incontinence -- male and female (women are twice as likely to develop a UI than men), young and old. Urinary incontinence may be a temporary condition, resulting from an underlying medical condition. It can range from the discomfort of slight losses of urine to severe, frequent wetting.

What causes urinary incontinence?

Incontinence is not an inevitable result of aging, but is particularly common in older people. It is often caused by specific changes in body function that may result from diseases, use of medications, and/or the onset of an illness. Sometimes it is the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection.

What are some of the types of urinary incontinence?

stress incontinence -- the most common type of incontinence that involves the leakage of urine during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or other body movements that put pressure on the bladder.

urge incontinence -- the inability to hold urine long enough to reach a toilet. It is often found in people who have conditions such as diabetes, stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, but may be an indication of other diseases or conditions that would also warrant medical attention.

overflow incontinence -- leakage that occurs when the quantity of urine produced exceeds the bladder's capacity to hold it.

functional incontinence -- leakage due to a difficulty reaching a toilet in time because of physical conditions such as arthritis.

What are the signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence?

leakage of urine that prevents activities
leakage of urine that causes embarrassment
leakage of urine that began or continued after surgery
inability to urinate or retention of urine
urinating more frequently than usual without a proven bladder infection
needing to rush to the bathroom and/or losing urine if you do not get to restroom in time
pain related to filling the bladder and/or pain related to urination without a proven bladder infection
frequent bladder infections
progressive weakness of the urinary stream with or without a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
abnormal urination or changes in urination related to a nervous system abnormality such as stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis

How is incontinence often treated?

For people with urinary incontinence, it is important to see a doctor for a complete medical examination. Treatment often begins with a detailed personal and family history of health and related problems, a physical examination that focuses on the urinary and nervous systems, reproductive organs, and urine samples. In many cases, patients will then be referred to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract.

After this complete medical examination a treatment protocol will be established, and may include:

certain behavioral techniques (including pelvic muscle exercises, biofeedback, and bladder training)
medication
surgery (if the incontinence is related to structural problems such as an abnormally positioned bladder or blockage due to an enlarged prostate)

Managing urinary incontinence:

Specifically designed absorbent underclothing is available -- which is no more bulky than normal underwear and can be worn easily under everyday clothing. Also, incontinence may be managed by inserting a catheter into the urethra and collecting the urine into a container. For men, an alternative to the catheter is an external collecting device that is fitted over the penis and connected to a drainage bag. Consult your physician with your questions regarding the management and treatment of urinary incontinence.

This page was last updated on: February 28, 2008.

For more information, call the University Physicians Consultation and Referral Service at 1-800-492-5538 (patients) or 1-800-373-4111 (physicians).