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Definition of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence is the involuntary flow of urine due to different diseases and causes personal hygiene issues or social life troubles. Urinary incontinence often occurs in post middle age women.

Causes and Types of Urinary Incontinence

• Stress Urinary Incontinence

When the pressure in abdomen increases, the patient urinates involuntarily.

1. The loss of strength of pelvic muscle and support structure due to aging, multiple childbirths, or surgeries.
2. Increasing pressure in abdomen, such as obesity and pregnancy.
3. Congenital urethral sphincter weakness, such as myelomeningocele and epispadia.
4. Others: menopause, trauma, and spinal injuries in sacrum.   

• Urge Incontinence

Not long after patients feel the urge of urination, the urine flows involuntarily.

1. The suppression of cerebral cortex on detrusor muscle contraction weakens, such as stroke, dementia, brain tumor, spinal diseases above sacrum.
2. Over stimulation on bladder, such as bladder inflammation, bladder tumor.
3. The volume of bladder becomes smaller due to long term use of catheter.
4. Consume a large amount of caffeine, alcohol, or liquid.

• Overflow Incontinence

Involuntary urine leaks due to bladder excessive fullness.

1. Neurogenic bladder caused by neuropathway issues
2. Bladder outlet obstruction, such as ankylourethria and prostatic hyperplasia.

• Complete Urinary Incontinence

Involuntary urination under any circumstances.

1. Neurological damages.
2. Fistula, such as vesicovagina fistula.
3. External sphincter damages due to surgeries.
4. Medications.
5. Congenital abnormality, such as ectopic ureter.
6. Others: trauma.

• Functional Urinary Incontinence

Incontinence caused by mobility difficulties, Alzheimer's Disease, abnormal consciousness and lead to involuntary urination at improper time, place, or before reaching the restroom.

Care for Urinary Incontinence

• Seek for help from urologists immediately when the symptoms occur.
• Do not drink excessive water at a time. Avoid excessive water intake before bed.
• Patients with stress incontinence and urge incontinence should do Kegel exercise.
• Avoid lifting heavy items or using abdomen strength to prevent pelvic muscle loosen.
• Remove obstacles in the environment to help patients reach the restroom easily, especially important for patients with mobility difficulties or urge incontinence.
• Lose weight for patients with obesity.
• Urinations between 2-3 hours.
• Take medications as instructed by your physicians.
• Allow plenty of time to use restroom in social occasions.
• Consistent Kegel Exercise for patients with stress urinary incontinence.