The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center says incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, feces or gas. It occurs when people lose control of their bowel or bladder. Incontinence is a potentially embarrassing affliction for more than 25 million Americans. Eight-five percent of those affected are women. People can suffer from one or more kinds of incontinence.
Stress Incontinence
The Mayo Clinic says stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women. In this type of incontinence, a person leaks urine when pressure is placed on the bladder due to activities such as laughing, coughing, sneezing and jumping. Stress incontinence can be caused by an enlarged prostate in men, weak sphincter muscle in women or pregnancy and vaginal childbirth. It may also be a result of a weak sphincter muscle--the muscle that controls the opening and closing of the tube through which urine is released, also called the urethra.
Urge Incontinence
Spastic bladder and overactive bladder are other names for urge incontinence. This type of incontinence is typically seen in elderly people and is characterized by a frequent, urgent need to urinate without being able to control the urge before getting to the toilet. In this case, urine leakage occurs before getting to the bathroom. It can be caused by a urinary tract infection, inflammation of the prostate gland, bladder, prostate or uterine tumors as well as surgical procedures in the areas around the bladder, rectum and lower intestines.
Fecal Incontinence
Fecal incontinence is another type of incontinence that involves lack of control over the release of feces or gas. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, by Anthony L. Komaroff and the Harvard Medical School, says fecal incontinence can be caused by nerve damage or spinal cord injury. Severe diarrhea and fecal impaction--buildup of dry hard feces in the rectum--can lead to temporary fecal incontinence.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence occurs when there is continuous leakage of urine. It occurs without warning and without the urge to urinate. Overflow incontinence is the result of a constantly full bladder that's caused by the inability to completely empty the bladder while urinating.
Functional Incontinence
A situation in which a person is unable to physically go to the bathroom to urinate is called functional incontinence. It may be caused by impaired mobility, as seen in patients with arthritis, or impaired thinking or communication skills due to factors such as Alzheimer's's disease.
Reflex Incontinence
"Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care" by Kristen L. Mauk says reflex incontinence is a type of urge incontinence in which a person's bladder contracts involuntarily. In this situation, a person experiences urine leakage but with no sense, need or urge to urinate. This type of incontinence can be caused by spinal cord injuries.
Mixed Incontinence
Mixed incontinence is common in women and involves having two types of incontinence at the same time. Stress and urge incontinence typically occur together, according to the Mayo Clinic.
References
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Types of Incontinence
- Mayo Clinic: Urinary Incontinence
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Incontinence
- "Gerontological Nursing: Competencies for Care"; Kristen L. Mauk; 2009
- "Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide"; Anthony L. Komaroff, Harvard Medical School; 2004
