MD At least 13 million Americans experience urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine. Because of misconceptions about incontinence, many people fail to mention the problem to their physician. Despite its prevalence, incontinence is not a normal part of being a woman or of aging. Many times this kind of incontinence is seen in women who have gone through child birth. Urine may escape when the person laughs, sneezes, or any other activity that increases the pressure in the abdomen.
Urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine when there is a strong desire to urinate.
The person usually cannot control urination long enough to get to the bathroom. Mixed incontinence is the coexistence of stress and urge incontinence. This type of incontinence is more common in older women. Overflow incontinence is seen in people who can't empty their bladders. The bladder is always full and there is constant dribbling.