What is urinary incontinence?
What their different forms look like and what possible causes are
In Germany alone, around 10 million people suffer from urinary incontinence. That means: One in eight people is affected! At least – because the unreported number is probably much higher.
Nevertheless, the topic is still a taboo. Less than half of those affected seek medical help – and even fewer actually receive treatment. Yet there are many ways to address involuntary urine loss.
In this article, you will learn what incontinence is exactly, what symptoms can occur, and what causes there are.
What does incontinence mean?
Incontinence means that one cannot reliably hold urine (or stool) and loses it involuntarily – between normal toilet visits. The risk of becoming incontinent increases with age. However, it does not only affect older people. It can also be an issue for younger people, for example, women after pregnancy.
Urinary incontinence is also referred to as "weak bladder." There are various forms. The most common are:
- Stress incontinence (also called effort incontinence)
- Urge incontinence
- Mixed incontinence
- Overflow incontinence
1. Stress incontinence: When movement becomes a problem
This form of incontinence occurs during physical exertion: One loses urine when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or even during sports. Women after childbirth or during menopause are particularly affected.
Typical symptoms:
- Urine loss during physical activity
- no strong urge to urinate
- Frequency depends on the exertion
Possible causes:
- Weak pelvic floor muscles
- Hormonal changes
- Surgeries in the pelvic area
2. Urge incontinence – When it suddenly has to be quick
As the name suggests: With this form of incontinence, sufferers feel a sudden, strong urge to urinate – sometimes without warning. Often, involuntary urine loss occurs because they cannot reach the toilet in time.
Typical symptoms:
- frequent, sudden urge to urinate
- urine loss before reaching the toilet
- feeling of a constantly full bladder
Possible causes:
- Overactive bladder (involuntary bladder contractions)
- Urinary tract infections (bladder infections)
- Neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis or stroke
3. Mixed incontinence – When stress and urgency combine
With mixed incontinence, both occur together: urge and stress incontinence. It can significantly impair the quality of life of the affected person.
Typical symptoms:
- Urine loss during physical exertion
- sudden urge to urinate that is difficult to control
- frequent urination, even when drinking little
Possible causes:
- Weak pelvic floor
- Overactive bladder (e.g., due to infections, neurological diseases, or hormonal changes)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Diseases such as diabetes or nerve damage
4. Overflow incontinence:
In this form of incontinence, the bladder is not completely emptied during urination. This leads to constant pressure and sudden urine loss. It occurs more frequently in men than in women.
Possible causes:
- Prostate enlargement
- Nerve damage
- Medications that inhibit urine flow
Other forms of incontinence
Functional incontinence:
The affected person can control their bladder but cannot reach the toilet in time – for example, because they have limited mobility or suffer from dementia.
Unconscious incontinence:
The affected person loses urine without noticing it. They also do not feel any pressure on the bladder. Causes are often neurological diseases or age-related pelvic floor weakness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In our next blog post: What to do about incontinence?
You now know how the different forms of incontinence manifest and what their causes can be. But what happens next? In our next blog post, you will learn how incontinence can be treated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Would you like to regularly receive information about incontinence from us? Then sign up for our free newsletter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- © Photo: © Rony Michaud/pixabay