Assessment
Questionnaire
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
Urinary incontinence is a very common condition in which there is involuntary leakage or a loss of control of the urine. There are a variety of causes and types of urinary incontinence. These include stress incontinence, in which small amounts of urine leak from the bladder during moving, such as when exercising or sneezing. Urge incontinence results in the leakage of large amounts of urine and often occurs together with stress incontinence. This is called mixed incontinence.
Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder is very full and leaks urine. Functional incontinence happens when a person is unable to reach a toilet in time. In overactive bladder, there is a pressing, and/or rapid and urgent sensation of needing to urinate. Transient incontinence is temporary and is due to a temporary condition, such as a urinary tract infection.
Symptoms of urinary incontinence include sudden urges to urinate and leakage of urine. Urinary incontinence can lead to frequent "accidents" that negatively affect a person's self esteem and ability to work, attend school, socialize, travel or complete other normal activities of daily living. A constant fear of incontinence can also lead to not drinking enough fluids, resulting in serious dehydration, especially in older adults. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is most common in women. Older adults of both sexes also commonly have urinary incontinence. About 25 million adult Americans experience transient or ongoing urinary incontinence and 75-80% of them are women. In addition, one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily, according to the National Association for Continence.
There are many factors that can disrupt the intricate and interconnected processes of the organs, muscles, and nerves that is necessary to maintain urinary continence (voluntary flow of urine). These include excessive fluid intake, childbirth, urinary tract infection, spinal cord injury, extreme fear or anxiety, bladder irritation, bladder cancer, and some neurological diseases.
Making a diagnosis of urinary incontinence includes completing a complete medical evaluation, including a detailed history of symptoms, and a physical examination. Diagnostic testing can include a urine analysis, which evaluates a number of elements in the urine and can determine if a urinary tract infection is present.
There are also a wide variety of tests that are used to evaluate urinary incontinence. These include a bladder stress test, in which the physician evaluates the loss of urine while coughing. An ultrasound uses sound wave technology to create a picture of the urinary tract. In a cystoscopy procedure, a small, flexible lighted viewing tube is inserted through the urethra to examine the bladder and urethra.
It is possible that a diagnosis of urinary incontinence can be missed or delayed because symptoms may be mild and not reported to the health care provider and for other reasons. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of urinary incontinence.
With an individualized treatment plan that best fits the type and severity of urinary incontinence and a person's life style, urinary incontinence can be successfully treated. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of urinary incontinence....more »
A diagnosis of urinary incontinence may be delayed or missed because some cases are mild and have minimal symptoms. Urinary incontinence is also often erroneously believed to be a normal part of the aging process or an expected result of childbearing. Because of this, urinary incontinence is underreported, under diagnosed, and undertreated.
Additionally, symptoms of ...more misdiagnosis »
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Urinary incontinence.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
See full list of 289 causes of Urinary incontinence
» Review Causes of Urinary incontinence: Causes | Symptom Checker »
Home medical tests possibly related to Urinary incontinence:
Review the causes of these more specific types of Urinary incontinence:
Review causes of types of Urinary incontinence in more specific categories:
See full list of 17 types for Urinary incontinence
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Urinary incontinence, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
See full list of 501 Symptom Checkers for Urinary incontinence
Current treatments can address a variety of causes of urinary incontinence, and symptoms can be successfully managed so people with urinary incontinence can live a normal, active life.
Treatment plans are based on medical history, type and severity of incontinence, coexisting conditions, and a patient's response to prior treatments. The most effect treatment plans for urinary ...Urinary incontinence Treatments
Some of the possible treatments listed in sources for treatment of Urinary incontinence may include:
Review further information on Urinary incontinence Treatments.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Urinary incontinence may include:
Real-life user stories relating to Urinary incontinence:
Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Urinary incontinence or relevant symptoms:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Urinary incontinence as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 4
medications causing Urinary incontinence
When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Urinary incontinence as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 4 drug interactions causing Urinary incontinence
Some of the comorbid or associated medical symptoms for Urinary incontinence may include these symptoms:
See all associated comorbid symptoms for Urinary incontinence
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
Research the causes of related medical symptoms such as:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Urinary incontinence:
Read more about causes and Urinary incontinence deaths.
Alzheimer's disease over-diagnosed: The well-known disease of Alzheimer's disease is often over-diagnosed. Patients tend to assume that any memory loss or forgetulness...read more »
Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various medical conditions, such as a ...read more »
Tremor need not be Parkinson's disease: There is the tendency to believe that any tremor symptom, or shakiness, means Parkinson's disease. The...read more »
Rare diseases misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease: A rare genetic disorder is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease for men in their 50's. The disease Fragile X disorder can show only mild symptoms in the early years, and...read more »
Interstitial cystitis an under-diagnosed bladder condition: The medical condition of interstitial cystitic is a bladder condition that can be misdiagnosed as various conditions such as overactive bladder or other causes of pelvic pain. This...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Urinary incontinence
Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:
Research extensive quality ratings and patient safety measures for hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in health specialties related to Urinary incontinence:
Research Hospital & Clinic Quality Ratings »
Rare types of medical conditions and diseases in related medical categories:
Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:
Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible
causes of Urinary incontinence as a symptom include:
See full list of 289
causes of Urinary incontinence
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Urinary incontinence is an inability to hold your urine until you get to a toilet. More than 13 million people in the United States--male and female, young and old--experience incontinence. It is often temporary, and it always results from an underlying medical condition. (Source: excerpt from Urinary Incontinence in Women: NIDDK)
Urinary incontinence , loss of bladder control, is the involuntary passage of urine. There are many causes and types of incontinence, and many treatment options. Treatments range from simple exercises to surgery. Women are affected by urinary incontinence more often than men. (Source: excerpt from Your Urinary System and How It Works: NIDDK)
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control or the leakage of urine. It can happen to anyone, but is very common in older people. At least 1 out of 10 people age 65 or older suffers from incontinence. It is a condition that ranges from mild leakage to uncontrollable and embarrassing wetting. Urinary incontinence is a major health problem because it can lead to disability and dependency. You may feel ashamed about bladder control problems. Remember that it's a medical problem and it's not your fault. Millions of women have the same problem. Don't believe people who tell you that urine leakage is normal. It isn't. Most of the time it can be improved. (Source: excerpt from Urinary Incontinence: NWHIC)
Urinary incontinence (in-CON-ti-nents) is the loss of bladder control or the leakage of urine. It can happen to anyone, but is very common in older people. At least 1 out of 10 people age 65 or older suffers from incontinence. It is a condition that rages from mild leakage to uncontrollable and embarrassing wetting. Urinary incontinence is a major health problem because it can lead to disability and dependency. (Source: excerpt from Urinary Incontinence -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
Urinary incontinence is an inability to hold your urine until you get to a toilet. More than... (Source: excerpt from Urinary Incontinence in Women: NIDDK)
Urinary incontinence , loss of bladder control, is the involuntary passage of urine.... (Source: excerpt from Your Urinary System and How It Works: NIDDK)
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control or the leakage of urine. It can happen to anyone, but is... (Source: excerpt from Urinary Incontinence: NWHIC)
Urinary incontinence (in-CON-ti-nents) is the loss of bladder control... (Source: excerpt from Urinary Incontinence -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
Failure of voluntary control of the vesical and urethral sphincters, with constant or frequent involuntary passage of urine.
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Inability to control the flow of urine and involuntary urination
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Failure of voluntary control of the vesical and urethral sphincters, with constant or frequent involuntary passage of urine.
- (Source - CRISP)
The list of organs typically affected by Urinary incontinence may include, but is not limited to:
The list below shows some of the causes of Urinary incontinence mentioned in various sources:
See full list of 289 causes of Urinary incontinence
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Urinary incontinence. Of the 289 causes of Urinary incontinence that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
See the analysis of the prevalence of 289 causes of Urinary incontinence
The following list of conditions have 'Urinary incontinence' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Urinary incontinence or choose View All.
The following list of medical conditions have Urinary incontinence or similar listed as a medical complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.
Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.
See a list of all the medical forums
This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Urinary incontinence based
on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:
Incontinence, urine
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Subtypes of Urinary incontinence:
Urinary dribbling (30 causes), Urinary urgency (48 causes), Night urination (27 causes), Stress incontinence (10 causes), Inability to control urination (7 causes), Bladder weakness (4 causes)
Medical Conditions associated with Urinary incontinence:
Urinary symptoms (1228 causes), Incontinence (359 causes), Bladder symptoms (1010 causes), Urinary problems (1033 causes), Urinary difficulty (648 causes), Sexual symptoms (1838 causes), Urinary system symptoms (1228 causes), Urination symptoms (1228 causes), Incontinence symptoms (331 causes), Digestive symptoms (5299 causes), Abdominal symptoms (5930 causes), Intercourse symptoms (258 causes), Lower abdominal symptoms (3048 causes)
Symptoms related to Urinary incontinence:
Urinary urgency (48 causes), Urine incontinence, Urinary hesitancy (40 causes), Urine retention (198 causes), Aging, Surgery, Infection (1293 causes), Urinary tract infection (68 causes), Cystitis, Cystocele, Rectocele, Uterine prolapse, Vaginitis (32 causes), Atrophic vaginitis
Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:
These general medical articles may be of interest:
See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Urinary incontinence and many other medical conditions:
Medical research papers related to Urinary incontinence include:
Research More Evidence-Based Medicine at TripDatabase.com
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 7 May, 2013 (0:31)
