How many types of urinary incontinence are there?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on November 20, 2024
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Urinary incontinence refers to the uncontrolled release of urine through the urethra. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including urge incontinence, stress incontinence, overflow incontinence, and true incontinence, each requiring treatment tailored to the specific type. The most common type is stress incontinence, which is often seen in women who have given birth. It is mainly caused by relaxation of the bladder sphincter and typically occurs when sudden increases in abdominal pressure, such as during coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects, cause urine to flow from the urethra. If the symptoms are mild, improvement can be achieved through exercises for the pelvic floor and bladder sphincter muscles. If the symptoms are severe, surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How many types of urinary incontinence are there?

Urinary incontinence refers to the uncontrolled release of urine through the urethra. There are several types of urinary incontinence, including urge incontinence, stress incontinence, overflow incontinence, and true incontinence, each requiring treatment tailored to the specific type. The most common type is stress incontinence, which is often seen in women who have given birth. It is mainly caused by relaxation of the bladder sphincter and typically occurs when sudden increases in abdominal pressure, such as during coughing, laughing, or lifting heavy objects, cause urine to flow from the urethra. If the symptoms are mild, improvement can be achieved through exercises for the pelvic floor and bladder sphincter muscles. If the symptoms are severe, surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
43sec home-news-image

Should I wear diapers for urinary incontinence?

Whether patients with urinary incontinence need to use diapers should be determined based on the severity of the incontinence. If it is only mild incontinence that does not affect normal work and life, it is not necessary to wear diapers. Regular urination schedules, along with exercises like pelvic lift and pelvic floor muscle training, can alleviate the condition. However, if the incontinence is more pronounced, it is best to initially use diapers to prevent excessive urine leakage. If necessary, a urinary catheter can be used temporarily to drain the urine and prevent leakage. At the same time, it is important to actively undergo relevant examinations to determine the cause of the incontinence and carry out targeted treatment.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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What is the difference between genuine urinary incontinence and pseudo urinary incontinence?

Genuine urinary incontinence generally occurs due to incomplete closure of the urethral sphincter, or due to insufficient urethral closure pressure. As a result, patients will show continuous leakage of urine from the urethra or involuntary urine discharge from the urethra when there is an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, such as during sneezing, coughing, or performing strenuous physical activities. Genuine urinary incontinence includes both continuous and stress urinary incontinence. Pseudo urinary incontinence is generally due to urethral stricture, commonly seen with conditions such as prostatic hyperplasia or urethral stones. The urethral stricture prevents urine from being expelled from the bladder. When the bladder becomes overly full, urine overflows through the urethra, a condition also known as overflow incontinence.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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What should I do if spinal bifida causes fecal incontinence?

When patients with spina bifida experience fecal incontinence, it generally indicates that the condition is quite severe and often requires prompt treatment. Many of these patients have an overt form of spina bifida. In such cases, a localized bulging mass can be found at the lower back, possibly accompanied by protruding spinal cord, meninges, and nerve roots. For these patients, early surgical intervention is recommended. Clinically, surgery is usually advised to remove the bulging mass and effectively separate and release the adhered nerve roots. If possible, it is best to reposition them back into the spinal canal to achieve the surgical treatment goals. Such surgeries are generally recommended to be performed at well-known, top-tier hospitals locally.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can you sit for a long time with postpartum urinary incontinence?

When postpartum urinary incontinence occurs, it is not advisable for the mother to sit for extended periods. This is because urinary incontinence in women is primarily due to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Sitting for long periods is detrimental to the recovery of pelvic floor muscle function. It is recommended that women pay attention to rest, avoid prolonged walking or standing, and also avoid sitting for long periods. Rest is important, as is ensuring adequate sleep and enhancing nutrition by consuming foods rich in protein and vitamins. It is advised to seek early pelvic floor rehabilitation training at a hospital and to adhere to the rehabilitation exercises. Generally, good recovery can be achieved within six months.