Female Incontinence

More than 33 million Americans experience some form of urinary incontinence or bladder condition, according to the National Association for Continence. It occurs in men and women of all ages, though chances increase with age.

There are three basic forms of incontinence:

• Stress incontinence: Leakage that occurs when physical stress, including sneezing, coughing or athletic activities, puts pressure on the bladder.
• Urge incontinence: A sudden need to urinate because the bladder contracts involuntarily, forcing urine out.
• Overflow incontinence: The bladder doesn’t empty as it should and later leaks urine as a result. This commonly happens when the urethra is blocked by an enlarged prostate.

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Muscle weakness in the bladder or pelvic floor, or problems in the nerves that control urination cause urinary incontinence. In general, it occurs when the muscle (sphincter) that holds the bladder’s outlet closed is not strong enough to hold back the urine. This may happen if the sphincter is too weak, if the bladder muscles contract too strongly or if the bladder is overfull.

Smoking, previous pregnancies, obesity, diabetes, bladder disease, certain medications or constipation can contribute to incontinence. Congenital problems or neurologic disease such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury can also contribute to incontinence.

The main symptom of incontinence is the accidental release of urine.

• Stress incontinence: Urine leaks when coughing, laughing, exercising or sudden movements.
• Urge incontinence: An immediate need to urinate, even small amounts. Patients urinate frequently and have trouble reaching the toilet in time.
• Overflow incontinence: A constant urge to urinate, but urine just dribbles continuously.

A urologist will perform a detailed history and physical exam, so it is helpful if the patient keeps a diary for a few days beforehand to record times of urination, the amount of urine, leakage and foods and beverages consumed. The physician may also perform one or more tests:

• Stress test: The patient relaxes and then coughs hard as the physician watches for urine loss.
• Postvoid residual volume: A measure of the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination.
• Urinalysis: An examination of the composition of the patient’s urine.
• Bladder scan: An ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder and urethra, to see if the bladder empties completely.
• Cystoscopy: A thin tube with a tiny camera is inserted into the urethra to view any abnormalities in the urethra or bladder.
• Urodynamics: A technique that measures the pressure in the bladder and urine flow.

It is helpful if the patient keeps a diary for a few days beforehand to record times of urination, the amount of urine, the leakage, and the foods and beverages consumed.