Urinary Incontinence Types:

A Guide for Women

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Let’s be real: dealing with incontinence can feel frustrating and, at times, a little isolating. But if you’ve noticed small leaks after childbirth or as you’ve aged, know that you’re not alone. Many women experience incontinence, which makes it more common than you might think.

This guide is here to help you understand different incontinence types, with a focus on women like you, especially if you’re just beginning to see the symptoms. Let’s go over each type, explain what causes them, and give you some advice on how to proceed.

Table of Contents

  1. What is Incontinence?
  2. Why Understanding Incontinence Types is Important?
  3. What is the difference between bladder Incontinence and fecal Incontinence?
  4. What are the Common Types of Urinary Incontinence in Women?
  • 1 Stress Incontinence
  • 2 Urge Incontinence
  • 3 Overflow Incontinence
  • 4 Functional Incontinence
  • 5 Mixed Incontinence
  1. Fecal Incontinence: What You Need to Know
  2. What are the Causes of Incontinence in Women?
  3. Who is at Risk for Incontinence?
  4. Diagnosing Incontinence: What to Expect
  5. What are the Treatment and Management Options for Women?
  6. What are the Practical Tips for Living with Incontinence?
  7. Final Words
  8. Elitone
  9. FAQs

What is Incontinence?

A condition in which you lose control of your bladder or bowel movements involuntarily is called incontinence. This means you might leak urine or stool without intending to. As women age, these symptoms are often noticed after pregnancy, childbirth, or child rearing.

It may feel awkward to talk about, but you’re not alone. There are a lot more people with incontinence than you might think, and it is manageable. The good news is that incontinence can be treated, and the first step toward improving your daily life is to understand your type of incontinence.

Why Understanding Incontinence Types is Important?

When it comes to finding the right treatment for incontinence, knowing what type you have is crucial. As an example, exercises and lifestyle changes that can help with stress incontinence may not be as effective for urge incontinence. By understanding the difference, you can address the leak more effectively, so you can resume your normal life without worry.

What is the Difference Between Bladder Incontinence Fecal Incontinence?

The two most common types of incontinence experienced by women are:

  • Bladder incontinence (urinary incontinence): In this condition, urine leaks from the bladder when you lose control of it.
  • Fecal incontinence: This occurs when you have trouble controlling your bowel movements, which results in stool leakage.

Throughout this guide, we’ll focus mostly on urinary incontinence, since it’s more common among women, especially those who have given birth. Additionally, we will discuss fecal incontinence, as the causes can be similar.

What are the Common Types of Urinary Incontinence in Women?

Urinary incontinence comes in several different forms, each with its own triggers and symptoms. Let’s break down the most common types.

Stress Incontinence

A person experiences stress incontinence when they cough, sneeze, laugh, or even exercise, causing urine to leak from their bladder. You develop this condition when your pelvic floor muscles weaken, which support the bladder.

Women often experience stress incontinence after childbirth, especially if their pelvic muscles are strained or damaged. It’s also common during menopause because of hormonal changes that affect muscle strength.

Urge Incontinence

Urge incontinence occurs when you suddenly feel the need to urinate, often without warning, and may not be able to get to the bathroom in time. When your bladder isn’t full, it can feel like it’s constantly sending signals to your brain.

It is possible for bladder irritants such as caffeine, spicy foods, or artificial sweeteners to trigger urge incontinence. There are, however, some women whose bladders contract too frequently due to an overactive bladder.

Overflow Incontinence

A person suffering from overflow incontinence may feel their bladder is never fully empty, resulting in frequent, small leaks. Urine continues to flow from your bladder in dribbles even when you don’t feel the need to go.

You may suffer from this type of incontinence if you have a blockage or issues with your bladder that prevent it from emptying properly. Women can also experience hormonal changes and certain medications.

Functional Incontinence

The term functional incontinence refers to the condition of being able to control your bladder, but not getting to the bathroom on time because of some other obstacle, often physical or cognitive difficulties. A person recovering from surgery or dealing with mobility issues might find it difficult to get to the bathroom quickly, resulting in leaks.

Incontinence of this type is often associated with aging, but it can affect anyone with mobility problems or conditions like arthritis.

Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence occurs when both urge incontinence and stress incontinence occur at the same time. Mixed symptoms are common in women, particularly after childbirth or during menopause.

Both sneezing or exercising (stress) and suddenly needing to urinate (urge) can result in urine leakage in these cases.

Fecal Incontinence: What You Need to Know

Women, especially after childbirth, are still concerned about fecal incontinence, despite its relatively low prevalence. Similar to urinary incontinence, it occurs when the pelvic floor muscles weaken or nerves are damaged during delivery, causing unintentional stool loss.

It is not uncommon for women to experience both bladder incontinence and bowel incontinence after having hard childbirths or undergoing pelvic trauma. If either type is affecting your daily life, you should address both as treatment options exist.

What are the Causes of Incontinence in Women?

Several factors can contribute to incontinence in women, including:

  • Pregnancy and childbirth: The strain of delivery and the weight of the baby can weaken or damage the muscles that control bladder function.
  • Menopause: The hormonal changes caused by menopause can lead to stress incontinence or urge incontinence.
  • Age: With age, muscles, including the pelvic floor muscles, lose strength, making it difficult to control bladder and bowel movements.
  • Chronic constipation: Pushing against the stool can weaken both the muscle that controls bowel and bladder function, which can result in incontinence.

Who is at Risk for Incontinence?

Certain women are at higher risk for developing incontinence, particularly:

  • Women who have given birth: Women with more pregnancies and vaginal deliveries are more likely to experience incontinence.
  • Postmenopausal women: The impact of hormonal changes can lead to muscle weakening, resulting in a greater risk of leakage.
  • Women with chronic conditions: Obesity, diabetes, or neurological disorders are common causes of incontinence among women.

Diagnosing Incontinence: What to Expect

Visiting a healthcare provider is the first step if you experience leaks and want a proper diagnosis. It is likely that they will ask you about your symptoms, medical history, and conduct a physical examination.

They may recommend the following to help them better understand your incontinence:

  • Keeping a bladder diary: Keeping track of your bathroom habits can help identify patterns.
  • Urinalysis: This can rule out infections or other issues.
  • Bladder function tests: The purpose of these tests is to determine how well your bladder holds and releases urine.

What are the Treatment and Management Options for Women?

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for incontinence, but the good news is that there are many effective treatments available.

  • Pelvic floor exercises: Strengthening the muscles that control bladder and bowel movements is often the first line of treatment. These exercises, also known as Kegels, can be done anywhere and help tighten the pelvic muscles.
  • Bladder training: To help your bladder hold more urine, schedule bathroom visits and gradually increase the time between them.
  • Medications: Some medications can reduce the urge to urinate frequently or calm an overactive bladder.
  • Lifestyle changes: Drinking more fluids, reducing caffeine and alcohol, and maintaining a healthy weight can help relieve symptoms.

Most women find significant relief through exercise and lifestyle changes, but more severe cases may require surgery or medical devices.

What are the Practical Tips for Living with Incontinence?

You do not need to give up your normal activities just because you are dealing with incontinence. For managing day-to-day life, here are some tips below, but please see our resource library:

  • Use discreet pads or liners to prevent leaks from affecting your clothing.
  • Practice timed voiding: Make a schedule for going to the bathroom, even when not feeling the urge.
  • Wear comfortable, absorbent underwear designed for leaks.
  • Do pelvic floor exercises regularly to strengthen your muscles and prevent leaks.

Final Words

Incontinence affects many women, particularly after childbirth or as they age. Finding the right solution begins with understanding the type of incontinence you have, whether it is stress incontinence, urge incontinence, or mixed incontinence. The right treatment and lifestyle changes can help you improve your quality of life and control your symptoms.

Elitone – Feel Confident Again!

If you’re seeking a convenient solution to managing urinary incontinence at home, Elitone is your go-to solution.

Elitone is a non-invasive solution for women who suffer from urinary incontinence. Using one of our FDA-cleared solutions, you can treat stress incontinence – leaks caused by coughing, laughing, or exercising and/or urge incontinence – leaks caused by an overactive bladder. Using Elitone or Elitone URGE, you can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control at home.

Get the confidence and relief you deserve. Elitone helps you return to normal life quickly.

FAQs

  1. Is incontinence only an issue for older women?
    No matter what age a woman is, incontinence can affect her at any time in her life, especially after childbirth.
  2. Can pelvic floor exercises really help with incontinence?
    Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles that control bladder and bowel functions, reducing leaks.
  3. What is the difference between stress and urge incontinence?
    A sudden urge to urinate causes stress incontinence, whereas stress incontinence occurs during physical activities such as sneezing or exercising.
  4. How does Elitone work for treating incontinence?
    Elitone helps by delivering mild electrical stimulation to the pelvic floor muscles, strengthening them over time and improving bladder control.
  5. Is incontinence treatable at home?
    Yes, many types of incontinence can be effectively managed at home with pelvic floor exercises and devices like Elitone.

Tired of wearing pads because of leaks? Regain control with Elitone!

Elitone: A Pelvic Floor Exerciser for Perimenopause Bladder Problems Treatment

Elitone is an FDA-cleared device for toning your pelvic floor muscles.  This external treatment device is non-invasive and discreet.  Elitone can help reduce leaks and sudden urges to urinate.  Improve your bladder function naturally, without medication or surgery in as little as six weeks!  Don’t let the symptoms of perimenopause keep you from living a life free from leaks or inconvenient urges!

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