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 by the inability to hold urine when the urge to urinate occurs. Several types of incontinence exist, and the most common types 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).
Urinary Tract Infection Quiz

How much urine does the average adult pass each day?
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Bladder Control Problems
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BPH (Prostate, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
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Cystoscopy
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Hysterectomy
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Prostate Cancer
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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.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.