It affects more females than males and has various causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Different Types of Incontinence
The fivetypes of urinary incontinencediffer in their causes and symptoms.
Incontinence treatment is partly based on results from the incontinence severity index (ISI).
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
What Conditions Are Linked to Incontinence?
The loss of bladder control may be temporary and because of an underlying medical condition.
Or, it may be an ongoingor even permanentconcern related to the dysfunction of the bladder itself.
OAB affects roughly 1 in 8 people, mostly those over 40.
These things can cause the bladder to overfill until urine leaks out, persistently or with occasional dribbling.
Functional incontinence can affect anyone of any sex but is more common in older adults and people with disabilities.
Conditions associated with functional incontinence include:
Who Develops Incontinence?
Incontinence can affect anyone, but certain groups are more vulnerable to bladder due to risk factors.
The stress may be further amplified when you are traveling or in a sexual relationship.
you might do several things before and during a public outing to reduce stress.
Your primary care provider or gynecologist (a specialist in female reproductive health) may be able to help.
But a specialist called aurologistis usually best suited to diagnose and treat the different types of incontinence.
Options include:
Do I Need Surgery?
Surgery is typically pursued in people with moderate to severe incontinence when all other treatment options have failed.
Even then, it may not be appropriate for everyone.
Surgery, like sling procedures and AUS, is generally limited to males with moderate to severe stress incontinence.
This can help reduce the stigma surrounding incontinence.
Summary
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control ranging in severity from mild to severe.
Urinary incontinence affects over 25 million people in the United States, predominantly females and older adults.
Treatment includes bladder training, medications, devices like pessaries, Botox, electrical stimulation, and surgery.
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