There is more than one type of urinary incontinence, all leading to urine leakage.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
- Urgency incontinence, a form of urinary incontinence, prompts sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate frequently throughout the day and night, sometimes resulting in leakage before reaching the restroom. It stems from an overactive bladder. Treatments, including pelvic floor exercises, medical treatments, Botox injections, and nerve stimulation, offer relief.
- Stress incontinence results in urine leakage due to bladder pressure from activities like coughing, laughing, or physical exertion.
- Mixed incontinence combines symptoms of urge and stress incontinence. A significant proportion of women with urge incontinence also experience stress incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence leads to urine leakage when the bladder is excessively full or cannot be fully emptied.
Here, we are going to focus more on urgency incontinence.
Risk Factors for Urgency Incontinence
The following factors may increase the risk of developing urgency incontinence:
- Prostate cancer treatment
- Pelvic surgery
- Enlarged prostate
- Radiation therapy
- Cerebrovascular accidents
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spinal cord disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Pelvic organ prolapse
Diagnosing and Assessing Urgency Incontinence
Elderly male patients with urinary incontinence undergo a comprehensive genitourinary exam, including a digital rectal exam (DRE) to assess prostate size and detect stool accumulation, abnormalities, and sphincter tone. A focused neurological assessment is also conducted.
Urinalysis screens for hematuria, urinary tract infection, and glucose presence. Postvoid residual (PVR) and multichannel urodynamics (UDS) evaluate detrusor underactivity, bladder outlet obstruction, and bladder compliance changes.
Elderly female patients discuss medical history and factors affecting continence with their doctor. Obstetric and gynecologic history, including prolonged labor or forceps-assisted delivery, is reviewed for pelvic floor disorder risk.
The physician conducts a pelvic exam to assess atrophic changes, pelvic organ prolapse (POP), or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Urinalysis is performed, and UDS may be required for diabetes, neurogenic voiding dysfunction, or prior surgery for pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence.
Treatment Options for Urgency Incontinence
Patients diagnosed with urgency incontinence may undergo various treatment options, such as behavioral, pharmacologic, physiotherapeutic, and surgical interventions.
Behavioral modification involves dietary changes, adjusting fluid intake, and altering voiding patterns, particularly effective for patients with good cognitive function.
Physiotherapy encompasses biofeedback, exercises, and electrical stimulation, with patients continuing exercises at home post-treatment.
Medications such as alpha-blockers, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, and PDE5-inhibitors target underlying causes of UI in men, while bladder-directed therapies benefit both men and women.
When medical therapy proves ineffective due to side effects or contraindications, advanced therapies like neuromodulation and Botox injections might be recommended. Neuromodulation includes posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) and sacral nerve stimulation (SNS). Botox may be done to treat symptoms of overactive bladder and neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction.
Choose UCI Pelvic Health Center for Urgency Incontinence
Don’t let urgency incontinence disrupt your life. This can worsen overtime. At UCI Pelvic Health Center, we specialize in diagnosing and treating urgency incontinence. Our team offers personalized care tailored to your needs, from thorough diagnostics to advanced treatment options. With cutting-edge techniques and a patient-centered approach, we’re dedicated to helping you regain control and improve your quality of life. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards finding relief from urgency incontinence.