Stress incontinence may be caused by weakness of the pelvic floor muscles or from sphincter incompetence. Factors associated with stress incontinence include weak pelvic floor muscles due to lack of exercise, being overweight, the strain of continuous coughing, injury to the pelvic floor from accidents, complications of surgery involving the pelvic floor or urethra, and childbirth. The symptoms of stress incontinence often start with small amounts of leakage of urine with coughing, laughing, sneezing or lifting heavy packages. As the condition progresses, large amounts of urine are lost, or leakage may occur with only minimal exertion. It is helpful to understand the difference as the causes and treatments for each type are different.
Medications can play a role in the problem of incontinence.
The physician needs to know the symptoms that have been experienced. Once the physician understands your medical history, a physical examination will be done. In addition, laboratory test and imaging test may be done if needed. Further Diagnostic test may be needed if the physician needs more information to narrow down the cause of the incontinence. One of the more useful tests is called Urodynamics .