Are you dealing with urinary incontinence? You are not alone. Studies show that this condition affects both women and men of all ages. Therefore, you should never suffer in silence for fear of embarrassment.
Even though urinary incontinence is more prevalent among middle-aged and older women, this shouldn’t prevent you from seeking medical care. Only an experienced doctor can tell you what “normal” is and what needs treatment. This is why you should visit a board-certified urogynecologist such as Dr. Uzoma K. Nwaubani for proper medical advice.
There are many treatment options for urinary incontinence including bladder training, medication, injections, pessaries, and also surgery. Knowing the type of urinary incontinence is useful in helping you tackle this condition.
Keep reading to see the different types of urinary incontinence that exist.
Stress Incontinence
This type of incontinence does not stem from emotion like you may think. This condition is caused by the physical strain exerted on the bladder. The main signs of stress incontinence include urine leakage when you cough, jump or even laugh.
There are two types of stress incontinence, namely urethral hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency. The former occurs when the urethra lacks the support required to keep it closed due to the downward movement of the bladder. The latter occurs when the sphincter does not close due to abdominal pressure.
Most women who give birth naturally experience stress incontinence, especially when the baby is big or when the labor process lasts for several hours. Additionally, the older a mother is, the higher the chances of experiencing stress incontinence.
For men, the most common cause is the urinary sphincter deficiency that can occur after prostate surgery.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence, also referred to as an overactive bladder, involves getting a strong uncontrollable urge to urinate, even when your bladder is not full. Just like stress incontinence, this condition can affect both your work and social life when you have to make frequent bathroom trips.
Urge incontinence is caused by brain damage and other neurological disorders, as well as diabetes. This condition is more prevalent in post-menopausal women. Additionally, studies show that black women are more susceptible to this condition.
Other identifiable causes for urge incontinence include urinary tract infections and enlarged prostates in men.
Mixed Incontinence
Mixed incontinence is a combination of both stress and urge incontinence. It affects both women and men, and is often a result of old age for both genders and/or prostate surgery for men.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence is caused by a blockage of the bladder often due to prostate enlargement in men. It is also due to an underactive bladder for both genders, severe uterine prolapse, nerve damage, tumors, scar tissue, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.
Functional Incontinence
This is a result of underlying medical conditions. Some medications that are used in treating heart failure or hypertension may disrupt your urinary functions. Additionally, people who suffer from mental health disorders and dementia may experience incontinence without being aware that it’s happening.
Reflex Incontinence
This is often due to nerve damage resulting from a traumatic brain injury.
The bottom line is that all these conditions do not equate to a life sentence. You should, therefore, seek professional help from an experienced urogynecologist such as Dr. Uzoma Nwaubani, who has decades of experience in dealing with incontinence.
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