What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control.  More than 13 million Americans suffer from incontinence, 85 percent of whom are women.  Women of all ages are at risk for urinary incontinence. 

Urinary incontinence is most often classified into four categories:

•         Stress – the unintentional release of urine during physical activities such as   

       coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or any other movement that puts stress on 

       the bladder.  Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common type.

•         Urge – an abrupt and uncontrollable desire to void the bladder

•         Mixed – a combination of stress and urge urinary incontinence

•         Overflow – the involuntary loss of urine resulting from an overfilled bladder without 

       any corresponding feeling or urge to void

What causes SUI?

Stress urinary incontinence is the most common form of incontinence in women and occurs when pelvic muscles supporting the bladder and urethra have been damaged or weakened.  Weakened pelvic muscles cannot hold the urethra in its correct position, causing the urethra to lose its seal and allow urine to escape with any movement from the diaphragm, such as a sneeze, that puts pressure on the bladder.

Physical changes that can lead to SUI include:

•         Childbirth

•         Pelvic or gynecologic surgery

•         Menopause or estrogen deficiency

•         Obesity

•         Chronic constipation

Is Stress Urinary Incontinence treatable?

Many cases of female incontinence are treatable.  Treatment options for stress urinary incontinence include:

•         Surgery to repair or lift the urethra or bladder neck to provide support during straining 

       or sudden movement

•         Medical devices that block or capture urine

•         Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles

•         Electrical stimulation to help return injured muscles to fitness and biofeedback to 

       record progress in strengthening treatments and exercises