Urge Incontinence
Sometimes
referred to as “overactive bladder” or “spastic bladder,”
urge incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine that usually occurs when a
person has a strong, sudden need to urinate. Urge incontinence is not a
disease. Rather, it is a sign that there is an underlying problem.
What Causes Urge Incontinence?
Urge
incontinence is caused by abnormal bladder contractions. Normally, strong
muscles called sphincters control the flow of urine from the bladder. With urge
incontinence, the muscles of an “overactive” bladder contract with
enough force to override the sphincter muscles of the urethra, which is the
tube that takes urine out of the body.
The bladder may
experience abnormal contractions for the following reasons:
- The
bladder may not be functioning properly because its nerves are damaged by
various diseases — for example, diabetes, stroke,
multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease. - The spinal
cord may be damaged. - The
bladder may be irritated.
In many cases,
the cause of urge incontinence cannot be identified.
What Are the Symptoms of Urge Incontinence?
The main
symptom of urge incontinence is the sudden urge
to urinate and the involuntary loss of urine at inappropriate times. For
instance, you may leak urine in public or while you are sleeping.
What Are the Risk Factors for Urge Incontinence?
People at
greater risk for urge incontinence include:
- older
adults - women
who are pregnant or who have just had a
baby - women who have had a C-section or other pelvic surgery
- people who are obese
- men who have had prostate surgery or prostate
conditions, such as enlarged prostate or prostatitis
- people who have nerve damage from conditions such as diabetes,
stroke, or injury - people with certain cancers, including the bladder and
prostate - people who are suffering from urinary tract infections
How Is Urge Incontinence Treated?
Urge
incontinence can be treated with a variety of behavioral treatments, medications, electrical stimulation, or
with surgery. Sometimes a combination of treatments is used.
Behavioral Treatments for Urge Incontinence
One way of
dealing with urge incontinence is to simply change some of your behaviors. For
instance, if you can anticipate when your bladder is overactive and may be
contracting abnormally, you can take action to avoid any mishaps or urine
leakage.
Here are some
techniques that may be helpful:
- Biofeedback:
Biofeedback is a practice that helps you learn how your body normally
behaves. When you do, you will know when it is not functioning properly.
In the case of urge incontinence, biofeedback can help you recognize when
your bladder is overactive.
training. To practice timed voiding, you use a chart to record the times
that you urinate and when you leak urine. This will give you an idea of your
leakage “patterns.” Then you can avoid leaking in the future by going
to the bathroom at those times.