Incontinence is defined as an involuntary loss of urine. Although many different types exist, there are 3 most common types of incontinence.

• Stress Incontinence (more common on women) – A loss of urine that occurs when excessive pressure is exerted on the bladder. Common situations where this occurs include coughing, laughing, sneezing, and lifting
  
• Urge Incontinence (also known as Overactive Bladder) - A condition where one experiences a sudden urgent and uncontrollable need to urinate that results in leakage. Overactive Bladder does not always result in incontinence. It may also cause urgency without incontinence and frequency, including nighttime frequency
  
• Overflow Incontinence - This form of incontinence results from a full bladder that overflows resulting in constant leaking.

When the bladder muscle contracts more often than normal, it causes the sensation of needed to urinate. Many underlying causes are associated with overactive bladder including: drug side effects, nerve damage or neurological disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc.) or stroke. Bladder cancer and urinary tract infections can also contribute. The majority of cases of Overactive Bladder in men are caused by an enlarged prostate (BPH). Treatment of the the enlarged prostate can usually resolve the incontinence.

Discussing of your urinary patterns with your urologist and a urinalysis can help determine some of the causes of the incontinence. There are many treatment options available to patients with the condition including medications, behavioral therapy, changes in diet, and in severe cases, surgery.

While millions of people experience bladder control problems at some point throughout their lifetimes, an exam by a trained urologist can help alleviate the discomfort and get patients back to better urologic health.

For more information on incontinence and bladder control click here.