Women are seen to have twice the amount of incidence of urinary incontinence than men. It’s more prevalent in aged women, but it’s not age dependent as it’s a medical problem. At the time of urination, the urinary bladder muscles contract and urine pass from the bladder to the urethra. At this time the muscles of the urethra relax, and the urine is thrown out of the body. If the bladder muscles contract suddenly or the urethra muscles are weak and unable to hold the urine then the urine may come out with low pressure. The problem is very common in women, and it’s treatable at all ages. Talk to us if you want to know more about urinary problem.
Types and Symptoms
There’re various types, and the symptoms depend upon the type of incontinence.
Stress Incontinence:
This is related to stress like physical changes due to pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Simply sneezing, coughing, laughing, or any other activity causes pressure to the bladder. The stress-related type may get worse in the week preceding the menstrual period as the low estrogen levels cause reduced muscular pressure of the urethra muscles, and the urine may leak.
Urge Incontinence:
In this, there is an urge or need for urination, and there is a loss of some urine. This is because of the bladder contracts abnormally. Here the nerve signals may not be peculiar which may be causing the bladder to spasm. In this there may be urination in sleep, after intake of small water, touching water or hearing its sound. Uncontrolled diabetes or hyperthyroidism may cause or worsen the existing urge incontinence.
Overactive Bladder:
This is due to the abnormal nerve signal to the bladder to contract at the incorrect time. Urination for eight or more than eight times a day, urgent need to urinate, leakage followed by the strong need for urination and waking in the night to urinate are some of the symptoms of overactive bladder.
Functional Incontinence:
People with physical and medical problems suffer from this type. People who cannot think, move or communicate have this type as they are not able to go to the toilet.
Overflow Incontinence:
In this type, the complete emptying of the bladder is lacking. If the bladder muscles are weak (because of nerve damage in diabetes) or urethra is blocked (due to tumor or stone) then this type is seen.
Other Types:
Combination of stress and urge type of urinary incontinence known as a mixed type. Transient incontinence may be due to coughing, constipation, mobility restriction, urinary tract infections, certain medications or mental impairment.
