3 Types of Incontinence And How They’re Treated

Does a sudden laugh or a slight tickle in your nose make you dribble down below?

Leaking out when you laugh or sneeze can be embarrassing, fueling anxiety in all kinds of day-to-day situations.

This condition of inability to hold urine or control your bladder is known as urinary incontinence. It is way more common than people admit, and it’s not just something that happens “when you’re older.”

The truth is, there are different types of incontinence, and each comes with its own set of causes, characteristics and triggers. And if you don’t know which type you’re dealing with, treating it can feel like shooting in the dark.

That’s why this isn’t just another “bladder health” blog. It’s a straight-up guide to the three most common types of incontinence, what causes them, how they show up, and what you can realistically do about them. So, keep reading to learn more.

1. Stress Incontinence

This type of incontinence is the most common one, which happens when you leak pee during normal, everyday movements like when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or lift something. It’s not because your bladder is full or because you waited too long. It just happens due to the physical exertion on your abdomen, which also increases bladder pressure, making your muscles lose control.

This kind of leak has nothing to do with “stress” as in anxiety. The word “stress” here just means physical pressure. And that pressure pushes on your bladder and makes a little bit of urine slip out.

It usually happens when the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder and urethra (a tube through which urine is excreted from your body) become weak and are unable to hold your pelvic organs in place. These are the ones that help you stay in control. If they’re stretched out, damaged, or just not as strong anymore, then any exertion or pressure can make the sphincter muscle inside the urethra suddenly open, letting urine pass through.

Stress incontinence usually affects women more than men. In fact, about 1 in 3 women will deal with it at some point in life. Men can have it too, but it’s not as common.

For many women, it starts after pregnancy or childbirth. Your body goes through a lot carrying a baby, pushing during delivery, maybe even stitches or a C-section, which can affect how well your bladder muscles work. Along with that, the drop in estrogen levels during menopause, which helps in maintaining the health and function of the pelvic tissues, also leads to incontinence.

Also read : A Diabetic’s Guide to Maintaining Optimal Urological Health

Men can also experience stress incontinence due to a decrease in collagen production, the weakening of pelvic floor muscles with ageing, after prostate surgery or pelvic injury and other underlying health issues like diabetes, stroke, and high blood pressure. Excessive weight, chronic constipation, straining during bowel movements, and doing heavy workouts are a few other causes.

2. Urge Incontinence

This type of incontinence is when you suddenly feel like you have to pee, and you might not make it to the bathroom in time, or you can’t hold it. It can happen even if your bladder isn’t full. One minute you’re fine, and the next, there’s this strong, urgent feeling that you need to go right now.

Urge Incontinence is often linked to something called an overactive bladder. That means your bladder muscles are squeezing at the wrong times, without warning, even when they’re not supposed to. Normally, your brain and bladder work together: your brain sends a signal when it’s time to pee, and your bladder waits until you’re ready. But with urge incontinence, that signal gets mixed up. Your bladder kind of does its own thing.

There can be many reasons why it happens:

Nerve problems – If the nerves between your brain and bladder are damaged (due to diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s, or multiple sclerosis), your bladder may not get the right signals.

Also read : 10 Early Signs of Diabetes That Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Infections – A urinary tract infection (UTI) can make your bladder irritated and jumpy.

Bladder irritation – Sometimes, things like caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, or even cold weather can trigger that sudden urge.

Ageing – As we get older, the bladder muscle may become more sensitive or less able to hold urine well.

Some people feel the urge every hour. Others get up multiple times at night to pee. It’s unpredictable, and that’s what makes it hard. You might avoid long car rides or going out, just in case you can’t find a bathroom in time.

3. Overflow Incontinence

This type of incontinence is a bit different from the others. In this case, your bladder doesn’t empty completely when you urinate each time. So, slowly, that leftover urine builds up, and then it starts to leak out on its own sometimes without you even realising it.

It’s like your bladder is always “too full,” but you don’t feel the urge to go. Or sometimes, you do feel like going, but only a little comes out even though there’s more inside. That leftover urine builds up and eventually starts dribbling.

This is more common in men, especially in those who have an enlarged prostate. A large prostate can press on the urethra, making it hard for urine to flow properly.

But it can happen to women too, especially if:

• The spinal cord or nerves are damaged (like from diabetes, injury, or surgery)
• The bladder muscles have become weak
• Severe constipation is putting pressure on the bladder

This condition can be tricky because everything seems normal on the outside but inside, your bladder isn’t fully in control. You may leak small dribbles of urine throughout the day, even if you just went. Or you might feel like your bladder is never empty. In some cases, you may not feel any urge at all, just notice wet underwear or frequent accidents.

Overflow incontinence can also lead to urinary tract infections because that leftover urine becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

How to Manage Incontinence?

There are different treatments for incontinence depending on the type and severity. But initially, it all starts with some basic lifestyle changes that help you gain some control over the leakage. Like losing and maintaining a healthy weight, eating fibre-dense foods and drinking plenty of water to avoid constipation, which can make incontinence worse. 

Next is bladder training. In this, you go to the bathroom following a set schedule (2-3 hours), even if you don’t feel the urge. This helps prevent your bladder from getting too full, and gradually, your bladder learns to hold urine for longer without leaking.

Kegels or pelvic floor muscle exercises also help strengthen the muscles that support your bladder. But honestly, they can be tricky to do right, so sometimes you may need to learn from a physiotherapist.

If none of that works well enough, doctors might talk about medications, especially for urge incontinence.  And if lifestyle changes and medicines still don’t work, then surgical options may be considered.

Don’t Suffer In Silence

All types of urinary incontinence can be treated at any age. So, it’s okay to talk about it, even if you feel embarrassed. You don’t have to keep it a secret or just accept it as a part of your life.

If you think you have an issue, do not hesitate to mention it to family or friends and your doctor.  The sooner you speak up, the sooner you can start treating the problem.