What Is Incontinence ?

About Incontinence

What is incontinence?

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there, so it’s important to set the record straight. After all, the more you know about the condition, the better you’ll be prepared to discuss options with a healthcare professional.

Incontinence can be used to describe an unintentional loss of:

urine from the bladder – known as urinary incontinence
faeces (poo) or flatus (wind) from the bowel – known as faecal/bowel incontinence.

Incontinence can range in severity from a small leak to complete loss of bladder/bowel control. If you suffer from incontinence of any kind, it helps to talk to a medical professional who can suggest various coping strategies.

There are different types of urinary incontinence :

Stress urinary incontinence :

Urine leaks when you exert pressure on your bladder by coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising or lifting something heavy.

Urge urinary incontinence :

You have a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. You may need to urinate often, including throughout the night. Urge incontinence may be caused by a minor condition, such as an infection, or a more severe condition such as a neurological disorder or diabetes.

Overflow incontinence :

You experience frequent or a constant dribbling of urine due to a bladder that doesn't empty completely.

Functional incontinence :

A physical or mental impairment that keeps you from making it to the toilet in time. For example, if you have severe arthritis, you may not be able to unbutton your trousers quickly enough. Poor mobility and environmental factors such as inaccessible toilets may also lead to accidents.

Mixed urinary incontinence :

You experience more than one type of urinary incontinence — most often this refers to a combination of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

If you have any further questions about incontinence, please find us on the contact us page and we’d be more than happy to assist.