Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Medically Reviewed on 11/10/2022
Doctor's Notes on Incontinence FAQs
Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of urine. This loss of urine is commonly due to weak muscles that control the exit of the bladder, or the inability to hold urine when the urge to urinate occurs. Several types of incontinence exist, and the most common styles include stress incontinence, which is associated with coughing, sneezing, or exercising, and urge incontinence, when the bladder feels as if it needs to be relieved immediately, regardless of how much urine is in the bladder.
Symptoms of incontinence include
- uncontrollable leakage of urine,
- feeling the need to urinate immediately (urgency),
- difficulty starting the urine stream (hesitancy),
- urinating more than usual (frequency),
- pain or burning with urination (often associated with infection),
- blood in the urine,
- having to get up at night to urinate (nocturia),
- dripping or dribbling urine after urination is completed, and
- bearing down to start the urine stream (straining).
What are the treatments for incontinence?
This short treatment section will address only the treatment of incontinence symptoms, not the underlying causes.
Incontinence treatments may consist of one or several of the following:
- Behavioral techniques
- Bladder training
- Double voiding
- Scheduled voiding
- Fluid and diet methods
- Kegel exercises (pelvic muscles strengthening
- Medications
- Anticholinergics like oxybutynin to calm bladder tissue
- Alpha-blockers like tamsulosin for urge or incontinence overflow
- Myrbetriq for urge or incontinence overflow
- Topical estrogen for urethra and vaginal muscle tone improvement
- Medical devices
- Urethral insert to block leakage
- Pessary – to help support urethral tissues
- Electrical stimulation to stimulate and strengthen pelvic muscles
- Other treatments
- Absorbent pads
- Catheters
- Injection of material to help keep the urethra closed
- Botox injection
- Nerve stimulators to control overactive bladder
- Surgery
- Sling procedure – synthetic mesh to support the urethra or in combination with pelvic prolapse surgery
- Bladder neck suspension to support the urethra
- Artificial urinary sphincter to control voiding manually
Urinary Tract Infection Quiz
QuestionHow much urine does the average adult pass each day?
See AnswerMust Read Articles:
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Cystoscopy
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Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
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How Do You Know If You Have a Urinary Tract Infection?
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Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is when there's an involuntary loss of urine. There are many types of incontinence, including urge incontinence (overactive bladder), mixed incontinence, reflex incontinence, and stress incontinence. Potential causes of incontinence include overactive bladder muscles, weak bladder muscles, blockage of urine flow, and nerve damage. Treatment may involve dietary changes and exercise, including Kegel exercises and using vaginal weights. -
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
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What Is the Best Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections that affect the bladder (cystitis) or the kidneys (pyelonephritis) in the urinary tract. The best treatment of a urinary tract infection is antibiotics, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim), nitrofurantoin (Macrobid), and fosfomycin (Monurol). Medications such as phenazopyridine (Pyridium, available by prescription, or Uristat, available over-the-counter [OTC]) may be used to numb the bladder and urethra and reduce the burning pain of some UTIs.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.