1 in 4 women, ages 30 to 59, have experienced urinary incontinence. Incontinence is often cited as the major cause of premature nursing home admissions. Women wait an average of 7 years before talking with their doctor about bladder-control problems. Stress incontinence is the leakage of small amounts of urine when intra-abdominal pressure is raised by coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending, lifting or straining. Urge incontinence is the compelling need to urinate and the inability to inhibit leakage long enough to reach a restroom.
Urine loss is moderate in most cases.
Mixed incontinence is the combination of stress and urge incontinence and the most common form of urinary incontinence. It is caused by bladder irritation and a weakened sphincter muscle. Functional incontinence results from an inability to use a toilet or to reach one in time. Physical, psychological or environmental factors may cause functional incontinence, which can occur despite a normal functioning urinary tract. Stress incontinence is the leakage of small amounts of urine when intra-abdominal pressure is raised by coughing, sneezing, laughing, bending, lifting or straining.