Do I have urinary incontinence?

In our latest article, esteemed consultant obstetrician, gynaecologist, and urogynaecologist, Professor Stergios Doumouchtsis, provides us with a comprehensive insight into all things urinary incontinence, including symptoms, causes, and an explanation of the two main types. 

What exactly is urinary incontinence?

It is involuntary leakage of urine at an inappropriate time and in an inappropriate place. There are many different kinds of urinary incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence, one of the most common types of urinary incontinence, is the involuntary leakage of urine when laughing, sneezing, coughing, and during any kind of physical exertion.

Another common type of urinary incontinence is urge urinary incontinence, which is associated with urgency. This is one of the main symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome.

What are the main symptoms?

There are quite a few symptoms associated with urinary incontinence. The main ones include the following:

• involuntary urine leakage
• urgent need to urinate
• failing to hold in urine when exercising

What causes urinary incontinence?

Common causes of stress urinary incontinence include pregnancy (vaginal childbirth), being overweight, chronic coughing, weightlifting, constipation and straining, ageing, as well as various genetic factors.

Urge urinary incontinence, on the other hand, often occurs without any specific cause.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

It can often be diagnosed by a medical history, and a description of symptoms and triggers. In some cases, where necessary, some specific tests may be carried out. First of all, a clinical examination will be performed, where straining and coughing may reveal stress urinary incontinence.

There are also more invasive, urodynamic investigations, which aims to reproduce the triggers and symptoms.

What are the main associated risk factors?

Risk factors for stress urinary incontinence include chronic straining, which may be accompanied by constipation. Being overweight or obese, weightlifting, and chronic coughing are all other risk factors associated with stress urinary incontinence. 

Risk factors for urge urinary incontinence include consuming caffeinated beverages, increased fluid intake, consuming fizzy drinks, specific types of sweeteners, or acidic drinks such as citrus fruit juices.

Professor Stergios Doumouchtsis is an expert when it comes to diagnosing and treating both stress and urge urinary incontinence. If you would like to get your symptoms checked out, make sure you schedule a consultation with him today via his Top Doctors profile.