STRESS INCONTINENCE overview

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Urine leakage as a result of extra pressure on the bladder is called stress incontinence. Stressors that may trigger leakage include sneezing, coughing, laughing, exercising or other physical exertion.

Stress incontinence is the most prevalent form of incontinence among women, accounting for approximately 60% of cases and affecting about 15 million adult women. Of these, 52% experience symptoms before age 50.

Causes of stress incontinence:

The urethra is the tube that carries the urine out of the body. Two conditions may cause failure of the urethra to maintain a watertight seal:

  • Poor support from the pelvic floor muscles (genuine stress incontinence)
  • The urethral sphincter muscle itself is weak (intrinsic sphincter deficiency)

Contributing factors for stress incontinence:

  • Anatomic and neurologic injury of the pelvic floor during pregnancy or while delivering a child
  • Genetic susceptibility in tissue strength
  • Behavioral aspects, such as smoking, obesity and occupation
  • Confounding medical conditions, such as chronic pulmonary disease, aging, hormonal changes, and radiation treatments
  • Priory surgery, especially hysterectomy

Also worth noting, 75% of women with genuine stress incontinence also report that they experience urge incontinence. Women who have both stress and urge incontinence are classified as having mixed incontinence.

Fortunately, many highly successful treatment options, both non-invasive and surgical, are available for women with stress incontinence.

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