Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is another name for not being able to control when or where urination happens.
 | The English used in this article or section may not be easy for everybody to understand. (August 2023) |
| Urinary incontinence | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Involuntary urination |
 | |
| Anatomy of the lower urinary tract and genital system. The top diagram shows the female urinary system, and the bottom shows the male urinary system. | |
| Medical specialty | Urology, gynecology |
| Frequency | Common |
Definition and symptoms[change | change source]
Urinary incontinence can mean involuntary or accidental urination. It is a common condition (especially in people over 65) and has a big effect a person's life.[1] Other problems may exist alongside urinary continence which affect the same body area when the problem is caused by or is causing something physical. It is an important problem in healthcare for older people[2] because it is so common.
Urinary incontinence UI (urinary track infection) can can be a source of shame or stigmatization. This is when the urinary incontinence is caused by an UI or UTI from unsafe sex. This shame creates barriers to successful treatment and makes the problem worse.[3] This is because some people may be too embarrassed to seek medical help for urinary incontinence.
Cause and diagnosis[change | change source]
Pelvic surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are major risk factors for urinary incontinence.[4] Urinary incontinence can be a symptom of another condition. It is common. Some people might not even tell their doctor about it.[5] There are four main types of urinary incontinence:[6]
- Urge incontinence due to an bladder problem
- Stress incontinence due to urethral sphincter muscle weakness[7]
- Overflow incontinence due to either weak bladder or blockage of the urethra
- Mixed incontinence involving features of different other types
Treatment and epidemiology[change | change source]
Treatments for urinary incontinence include pelvic floor muscle training, bladder training, surgery, and electrical stimulation.[8] Councelling therapy works better than medication for stress and urge incontinence.[9] The benefit of medications is small and long term safety is unclear.[8] Urinary incontinence is more common in older women.[10]
Further reading[change | change source]
Other websites[change | change source]
https://nafc.org/conditions-overview/
Related pages[change | change source]
Enuresis is incontinence in children[11].
Nocturnal enuresis is bed wetting at night.
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Ackley B (2010). Nursing diagnosis handbook : an evidence-based guide to planning care (9th ed.). Maryland Heights, Mo: Mosby. ISBN 9780323071505.
- ↑ Venes D (2013). Taber's cyclopedic medical dictionary. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. ISBN 9780803629776.
- ↑ "My bladder and bowel own my life." A collaborative workshop addressing the need for continence research (PDF). Age UK. 2018.
- ↑ "Urinary incontinence fact sheet". Womenshealth.gov. July 16, 2012. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
- ↑ "Medicinewise News". NPS MedicineWise. Archived from the original on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2013-09-24.
- ↑ Ghosh AK (2008). Mayo Clinic internal medicine concise textbook. Rochester, MN: Mayo Clinic Scientific Press. p. 339. ISBN 9781420067514.
- ↑ Santoro GA, Murad-Regadas S, Causa L, Mellgren A (19 November 2013). Gaspari AL, Pierpaolo S (eds.). Pelvic Floor Disorders: Surgical Approach. Milan: Springer. p. 58. ISBN 978-88-470-5441-7. OCLC 863638540.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Shamliyan, T.; Wyman, J.; Kane, R. L. (April 2012). "Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women: Diagnosis and Comparative Effectiveness". Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US). PMID 22624162.
- ↑ Balk EM, Rofeberg VN, Adam GP, Kimmel HJ, Trikalinos TA, Jeppson PC (April 2019). "Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Clinical Outcomes". Annals of Internal Medicine. 170 (7): 465–479. doi:10.7326/M18-3227. PMID 30884526.
- ↑ "Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults". National Institute on Aging. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ↑ "Enuresis - Medical Dictionary". www.medicaldictionaryweb.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.