There are various types of urinary incontinence and it is important for the patient to undergo appropriate diagnosis as the treatment of each incontinence type varies significantly. Approximately 90 percent of all patients experiencing urinary incontinence will have urge incontinence also known as overactive bladder (OAB), stress incontinence, or mixed incontinence. A small minority may have rarer forms of incontinence including overflow incontinence, anatomic incontinence, or functional incontinence. It is important that the correct diagnosis be made prior to initiating an appropriate treatment plan.
Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by frequent urination during the day or night and a sudden urge to urinate, with or without urinary leakage. When urinary leakage occurs the patient is said to have urge incontinence. Typically, patients complain of a sudden urge to urinate, sometimes not being able to make it to the bathroom in time with associated leakage. This condition is caused by spontaneous bladder spasms. Bladder spasms can result from dietary factors (bladder stimulants-caffeine or alcohol), increased fluid intake, drug side effects, urinary tract infection/cancer, and/or nerve dysfunction (associated with nerve trauma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury). Primary treatments for overactive bladder include behavioral interventions and medications. Learn more.
Stress urinary incontinence is one of the most common types of incontinence and is characterized by urinary leakage during physical activities including coughing, sneezing, exercising, lifting, and laughing. As the condition progresses, it can become severe enough to happen with simple acts such as bending and walking. This condition is due to an anatomic weakness of the bladder neck which typically maintains the seal of urine during activity. Stress incontinence can result from a variety of conditions including vaginal childbirth, aging, menopause and obesity. As this is an anatomic condition, primary treatment may involve pelvic floor exercises and/or minimally invasive surgery. Learn more.
Mixed incontinence is a condition in which the patient experiences symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence. With mixed incontinence urine leakage occurs both with a sense of urgency and with physical activity. Typically, it is important to determine which component, urge or stress, is most bothersome and then treat that initially. Treatment options include a combination of medications, exercises, and surgery.
Other types of incontinence are relatively uncommon but should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis especially in patients that have not improved with traditional therapies.
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