All Incontinence Articles

A leading urologist says two common myths about female incontinence -- that it's a natural result of aging and that only surgery can help -- should be dispelled. The urinary disorder, affecting as many as 30 percent of women beyond the age of 60, is now treatable through a variety of medical options, says Dr. Karl Luber, head of Kaiser Permanente's Female Incontinence Program in San Diego. Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideThe treatment and management of urinary incontinence may involve simple exercises, medications, lifestyle changes, or surgery. The goal of treatment is to stop the leakage, or at least to minimize Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideUrinary incontinence is a symptom of other conditions. Any loss of voluntary bladder control can be considered incontinence. Symptoms include: Leaking triggered by laughing, sneezing, lifting heavy Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideYou have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about your personal risk factors and/or experience with urinary incontinence. By Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideThe purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideA risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.It is possible to develop chronic urinary incontinence with or without the risk factors listed below. Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource Guide Urinary incontinence is often a symptom of another condition. It cannot always be prevented. Women can decrease their chances of developing stress incontinence by doing Kegel exercises. This is Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideNational Association For ContinenceAddress:P.O. Box 1019Charleston, SC 29402-1019Phone:1-800-252-3337Internet Address:http://www.nafc.orgDescription of Services Provided:The council provides Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideUrinary incontinence can be a complicated diagnosis because the cause sometimes cannot be fully identified. Your doctor will first ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a Read more...

by Ricker Polsdorfer, MDMain Page | Cause | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Urinary Incontinence | Resource GuideThere are several types of urinary incontinence and the causes vary depending on the type.Temporary Incontinence Temporary incontinence can be caused by: MedicationsConstipationUrinary Read more...

by Jean Baker Are you a woman who hesitates to play a favorite sport, like golf or tennis, because the exertion sometimes causes "leaks"? Do you find yourself scanning the personal care aisle of the supermarket, shopping for hygiene products you never thought you'd need? You're not alone. Studies indicate that 25% of women in the United States between the ages of 30-59 deal with some form of Read more...

As told to Nancy Hall Urinary incontinence can have any number of causes. For Kay, a 51-year-old mother of two, incontinence is secondary to her mild multiple sclerosis (MS). Here, she discusses the condition that no one wants to talk about. What was your first sign that something was wrong? What symptoms did you experience? Oh, you sort of know this Read more...

(Enuresis, Primary Nocturnal Enuresis, PNE) by Debra Wood, RNDefinitionBed-wetting is involuntary urination during sleep in children over age five. Typically around ages 3 to 5 years, children become able to sleep through the night without wetting. While infection or anatomic abnormalities of the urinary system may explain bed-wetting at night, most cases have no explanation and are referred to Read more...

by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MDDefinitionConstipation is infrequent and/or uncomfortable bowel movements. Stool is often hard and dry. It is the most common gastrointestinal complaint in the United States and accounts for 2 million annual visits to the doctor.Causes Constipation has many causes, including: Not enough fluid intakeOveruse of laxative medicinesToo little exerciseBed rest Certain Read more...

Pronounced: En-koh-pree-sis by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MDDefinitionEncopresis is inappropriate loss of control of the bowels. This usually results in stool staining the underwear. In order to be considered encopresis, there is no other physical problem or illness that could be responsible for the loss of stool. Encopresis occurs in children four and older.Causes Causes include: Chronic Read more...

by Julie Riley, MS, RDDefinitionUrinary incontinence is the loss of voluntary bladder control leading to the leakage of urine. It can be temporary or chronic. Incontinence is a symptom, not a condition in and of itself.Causes Temporary incontinence can be caused by: MedicationsConstipationInfectionMuscle weaknessRestricted mobilityEndocrinological disorders (for example, diabetes)Incontinence in Read more...

by Patricia Griffin Kellicker, BSNEn Español (Spanish Version) Definition Urethral suspension is a surgical procedure used to treat stress incontinence in women. Stress incontinence is an uncontrolled leaking of urine. Stress, in this case, means physical stress on the bladder and urethra (the short tube from the bladder to above the vagina that carries urine). Read more...

by Laurie LaRusso, MS, ELSEn Español (Spanish Version) Definition Neurogenic bladder is abnormal bladder function caused by a nerve problem. The bladder may empty too often or at the wrong time ( incontinence ) or the bladder may be unable to completely empty the urine (urinary retention). In this case, urine may leak out of the overfilled bladder. Read more...

An innovative treatment involving powerful pulsing magnetic fields may offer hope to millions of ThirdAge women who suffer from loss of bladder control. A new study found 61 percent of women treated had a 50 percent better reduction in incontinence episodes. The research was presented at the International Bladder Symposium in Washington, D.C. Test subjects were treated with Extracorporeal Read more...

Urologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center say a Pacemaker-like device may offer relief for people with severe bladder control problems. The new Interstim device is implanted under the skin over abdomen and controls nerve impulses to the bladder to relieve problems of incontinence, urinary retention and urinary frequency/urgency. Of the 13 million Americans who suffer from Read more...