Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is passing urine when you did not not mean too (an involuntary loss of urine). It can range from a small 'dribble' now and then, to large floods or urine. Incontinence may cause you distress as well as being a hygiene problem.

Urinary incontinence is common, especially in women. It can occur at any age, but it is more likely to develop the older you become. It is estimated that about 3 million people in the UK are regularly incontinent. Overall this is about 4 in 100 adults.

However, as many as 1 in 5 women over the age of 40 have some degree of urinary incontinence. The number may be higher as many people don't tell anyone about their problem.

There are different types of urinary incontinence.

Stress incontinence is the most common form. It occurs when the pressure in the bladder becomes too great for the bladder outlet to withstand. It usually occurs because the pelvic floor muscles which support the bladder outlet are weakened. Urine tends to leak most when you cough, laugh, or when you exercise (such as jump or run). In these situations there is a sudden extra pressure ('stress') inside the abdomen and on the bladder. Small amounts of urine may leak, but sometimes it may be quite a lot and causes embarrassment. The common reason for the pelvic floor muscles to become weakened is childbirth. Stress incontinence is common in women who have had several children. It is also more common with increasing age and with obesity.



Urge incontinence (unstable or overactive bladder) is the second commonest cause. This is when you get an urgent desire to pass urine. Sometimes urine leaks before you have time to get to the toilet. The bladder muscle contracts too early and the normal control is reduced. The cause is not known but it seems that the bladder muscle gives wrong messages to the brain, and the bladder may feel fuller than it actually is.

Mixed incontinence. Some people have a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

OUR DISTRICT NURSES RUN AN INCONTINENCE CLINIC AT THE HEALTH CENTRE IN CONJUCTION WITH THE PHYSIOTHERAPISTS. ASK A DDOCTOR OR NURSE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REFERRED TO THIS CLINIC.