Women are more likely to have bladder control problems than men because of their anatomy. In the woman, the bladder, bladder neck and urethra are partially supported by the vagina and the striated muscles of the pelvic floor. Muscle tone weakens within childbirth, age, and significant weight gain. As estrogen levels decrease, the urethra loses its ability to compress. Transient incontinence is generally related to an acute illness or an infection, it will disappear when the trigger resolves.
Chronic incontinence is on going.
There are 5 primary types of incontinence. The type often seen in the TBI and the geriatric population are functional incontinence and overflow incontinence. This is an example of functional incontinence. Overflow incontinence occurs when there is leakage of urine between trips to the bathroom if the bladder is not completely empty. This may be the result of neurologic changes, such as those caused by diabetes, or when the urethra is narrowed or blocked.