What is Incontinence?

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of bladder and/or bowel control. Loss of bladder control is also known as urinary incontinence and loss of bowel control is also known as fecal incontinence. It is a common problem the effects both men and women of all ages. 

There are many causes of incontinence including surgery, child birth, menopause, birth defect, injuries to areas such as pelvic area or spine, disease, infection, certain medications, and chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or arthritis. Certain beverages including alcohol or caffeinated drinks may also contribute. In this article we will focus on urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is almost always a result from an underlying medical condition. Incontinence can occur when any part of the urinary system malfunctions or is compromised. Urinary incontinence can range in severity from drops or small leaks to complete loss of bladder control. This system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, sphincter and urethra. In the normal situation the bladder will store urine until it is time to urinate or void the bladder. Urinary incontinence can happen when any part of the urinary system is not functioning correctly.

Voiding or void is a medical term often used to describe the process of urination i.e. voiding the bladder. Some individuals may not be able to void completely which can also cause problems such as bladder infection. This is often found with people that have certain diseases or spinal cord injuries. 

The types of urinary incontinence are - stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overflow incontinence, & functional incontinence. Here is a brief description of each:

Stress Incontinence - may happen when there is an increase in abdominal pressure from situations such as laughing, exercising, sneezing, or coughing. The urine leaks due to weakened pelvic floor muscles and tissue. This may be caused by childbirth, being overweight or obese (bariatric), having had prostate surgery, and certain medications. 

Urge Incontinence - also known as overactive bladder. This is the incontinence that describes when there is a sudden urgent need to urinate and not having time to get to the bathroom or toilet. This type of incontinence is often caused by damage to the bladder’s nerves, damage to the nervous system or damage to muscles. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and stroke can affect nerves resulting in urge incontinence. There other other conditions that can lead to urge incontinence such as bladder infections, bladder stones, and use of certain medications. 

Note: some women have both stress and urge incontinence which may be referred to as “mixed urinary incontinence”

Overflow Incontinence - this type of incontinence that describes when a person is not able to empty their bladder completely and as a result may experience leakage when the bladder is full. This is something that many men experience in the form of frequent dribbling of urine.  Overflow Incontinence is caused by weak bladder muscles, blockage of the urethra cause by situations such as an enlarged prostate, tumors and constipation. 

Functional Incontinence - incontinence caused by physical problems such as arthritis or cognitive problems. The problems such as dementia may prevent a person from getting to the bathroom in time. 

Many more women experience urinary incontinence than men, but it does still effect men. Since there are many possible causes of incontinence it is important to obtain a medical diagnosis to determine possible treatment options. Many times urinary incontinence can be cured or improved so it is important to consult with your doctor. For example, sometimes changes to diet, behavior, or medicines or diet can help improve the situation. Any changes that are made to any of these, especially medicine should be done only under the care and supervision of your doctor. 

In some cases surgical treatment may be performed after receiving a medical evaluation and exhausting nonsurgical treatment options. 

During evaluation and treatment there are many options for products to help manage and maintain comfort, health, dryness and dignity. These products include garnets such as adult diapers, protective pull up underwear and underwear pads and liners. Click on this link of you would like to check out any of the large variety of incontinence products available on our web site.