Incontinence comes in many different forms and understanding the differences between them is a critical step in moving towards recovery. This article touches briefly on the different types of incontinence.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is caused by the pelvic muscles or sphincter being damaged which can cause the bladder to leak when it comes under physical stress. This can occur during many different types of movement including laughing, coughing or sneezing. Lifting heavy objects can also apply pressure on the bladder and cause stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is quite common in women who have given birth multiple times.

Urge Incontinence

Urge incontinence refers to an urgent and uncontrollable urge to pass urine coupled with an inability to prevent the bladder from releasing urine. Typically this means a sufferer will be hit by a need to urinate and try to get to a bathroom in time, but be unable to contain themselves. Urge incontinence is frequently caused by nerve damage is suffered in the pathways between the bladder and the brain. There are multiple reasons this can happen including having suffered a stroke, alzheimers disease, parkinsons disease, dementia or multiple sclerosis. Urge incontinence is one of the types of incontinence that can also be had at the same time as stress incontinence.

Urge Incontinence is usually marked with a frequent need to urinate and bed wetting. It can also be triggered by drinking even a small amount of water or the sound of running water.

Overflow Incontinence

Overflow Incontinence is typically caused by incorrect signal relay to the brain of how full the bladder is. The bladder becomes overly full and simply overflows. Pelvic Trauma and Diabetes are common causes, as are excessive use of plastic surgery, Polio, Multiple Sclerosis or spinal cord injuries. The symptoms are numerous and varied but include the loss of small amounts of urine throughout the day, the desire to empty your bladder when unable to do so, feeling the bladder is still full after urinating and passing a weak dribbling stream of urine.

Incontinence From Surgery

Following some operations, such as hysterectomies, caesarean sections and prostatectomies a patient may find they suffer from a transient condition referred to as Incontinence from surgery. This can also follow lower intestine surgery or rectal surgery, usually performed in response to an invasive cancerous growth. The surgery effects the pelvic muscles and can lead to leakage or any of the other types of incontinence.

Functional Incontinence

This is a form of incontinence caused by not being able to properly complete the normal process of relieving oneself. It is usually associated with the elderly and can involve such things as inability to work zippers or buttons due to severe arthritis. Of all the types of incontinence this is the only one which is caused by factors exclusively outside the urinary tract.

Anal or Double Incontinence

This type of incontinence occurs due to a failure of the nervous system and is most common in the very old, frail or those in the very late stages of a nervous system disorder. In this situation the ability to control bowel motions is lost along with control over passing water.