What Are the Different Types of Urinary Incontinence?

Introduction to Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence, which affects many women and men, is more common than you might think.

It’s important to know that if you’re dealing with incontinence, you’re not alone.

This often-overlooked issue can have a significant impact on the lives of those who experience it, but understanding it and seeking support can make a world of difference. In this article, we’ll explore incontinence, its various types, and the steps you can take to manage and improve your quality of life.

Remember, you’re not alone in this journey towards better health and well-being.

The Different Types of Incontinence

1. Stress Incontinence: Stress incontinence occurs when we sneeze, cough, jump, or laugh and experience urine leakage. This type of urinary incontinence is quite common, especially in older patients or women who have given birth. In stress incontinence, our pelvic floor muscles are unable to contract adequately to counter the increased pressure in our abdomen. Consequently, this muscle weakness results in urinary leakage when our muscles can’t prevent us from urinating.

2. Urge Incontinence: Urge incontinence is characterized by the urgent need to urinate, but we struggle to make it to the bathroom in time. Some individuals may dribble a little on their way to the restroom, while others find that once they feel the need to urinate, there’s no delaying it. In urge incontinence, there is a lack of endurance in our pelvic floor muscles. These muscles cannot contract and maintain that contraction to signal our bladder that we are not yet ready to urinate.

3. Mixed Incontinence: As the name suggests, mixed incontinence combines elements of both stress and urge incontinence. It indicates a dual problem where our pelvic floor muscles exhibit weakness in terms of strength and endurance. This combination leads to a blend of symptoms from both types.

4. Functional Incontinence: Functional incontinence differs slightly from the others. It arises when we face physical or mental limitations that prevent us from reaching the bathroom in time. This could be due to various factors, such as mobility issues, balance problems, pain, or injury, which hinder our ability to access a restroom or commode promptly.

Wondering Which Type of Incontinence You Have?

Determining the type of incontinence you’re experiencing requires a closer look at why and when urinary leakage occurs. Pay attention to the triggers and even note situations where leakage happens unintentionally or without any apparent cause.

When you consult with a pelvic floor physical therapist, they will likely inquire about the circumstances surrounding your leakage, so having this information on hand can be quite helpful.

If you’re still uncertain about the type of urinary incontinence you have and how to manage it, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office.

We can schedule an appointment to help you address your urinary incontinence effectively.

If you’re unsure, read all about pelvic floor physical therapy & how it can change your life.