Any loss of urine from the bladder or feces from the bowel is called Incontinence. There are seven types of incontinence related to the Urinary System.
Stress Urinary Incontinence – When a person coughs, laughs, sneezes or applies any pressure on the pelvic floor, this causes leakage of urine. This is called Stress Urinary Incontinence or SUI.
Urge Incontinence – Urge incontinence is when a sudden and urgent need to void occurs, even after the bladder was emptied a few minutes earlier.
Mixed Incontinence – This is a combination of both stress and urge incontinence.
Functional Incontinence – This type of incontinence has nothing to do with the Urinary system. Functional Incontinence occurs when a person is unable to reach the washroom either due to a physical or mental impediment.
Transient Incontinence – Is a short lived condition and occurs due to a medical condition.
Total Incontinence – As the name “Total” implies, it means the person has absolutely no control over their bladder.
Overflow Incontinence – When the bladder does not empty out completely, small amounts of urine is left behind, which involuntarily dribble out. It is also possible that at times the sensation of the bladder not being completely empty will persist.
Incontinence occurs in women of all ages. Sometimes women leak urine when they exercise, laugh, sneeze or cough. Pregnant women also tend to leak urine either during their pregnancy or after delivery. Female sports persons have leakage of urine during strenuous sports activities, regardless of age of the sportsperson.
Read Also: Urinary Incontinence in the Elderly
Incontinence is not a disease but it is a medical problem and a sign that there is something wrong. Seeking treatment / medical help will help prevent embarrassing accidents.