Incontinence

• Incontinence  is the inability to control the release of urine from your bladder. The problem has varying degrees of severity. Some people experience only occasional, minor leaks — or dribbles — of urine. Others wet their clothes frequently. For a few, Incontinence means both urinary and fecal Incontinence — the uncontrollable loss of stools.

Do you have trouble controlling when you urinate? Do you leak urine when you cough or sneeze? Do you suddenly need to go to the toilet so badly that you're not sure you're going to make it in time — and sometimes you don't? Does a fear of wetting yourself and smelling of urine keep you from activities?

The loss of bladder control — known as Incontinence — is an all too common, often embarrassing and frustrating problem for millions of people. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may count yourself among them.

Although common, Incontinence isn't necessarily a normal part of aging or, in women, an inevitable consequence of childbirth or changes after menopause. It's a medical condition that can have many different causes, some relatively simple and temporary and others more involved and long term.

If you're having trouble with this, don't hesitate to see your doctor. In many situations, bladder control can be eliminated. Even if the condition can't be completely eliminated, modern products and ways of managing Incontinence can ease your discomfort and inconvenience.

Incontinence is the inability to control urination (passage of urine). Urinary Incontinence can range from an occasional leakage of urine to a complete inability to hold any urine. (loss of bladder control, uncontrollable urination)

Incontinence is seen more frequently among the elderly. Women are more likely than men to be affected by Incontinence.

Incontinence is not a hopeless situation. Although it is usually not an emergency, problems with bladder control should be reported to the doctor. The gynecologist and the urologist are the specialists who are most familiar with Incontinence and can evaluate the causes of Incontinence and recommend several treatment approaches.

NORMAL URINATION: The ability to hold urine and maintain continence is dependent on normal anatomy and function of the lower urinary tract and the nervous system. Additionally, the person must possess the physical and psychological ability to recognize and appropriately respond to the urge to urinate.

The process of urination involves two phases:

1) the filling and storage phase, and
2) the emptying phase.

Normally during the filling and storage phase, the bladder begins to fill with urine from the kidneys. The bladder stretches to accommodate the increasing amounts of urine. The first sensation of the urge to urinate occurs when approximately 200 ml of urine is stored. The healthy nervous system will respond to this stretching sensation by alerting you to the urge to urinate while also allowing the bladder to continue to fill. The average person can hold approximately 350 to 550 ml of urine. The ability to fill and store urine properly requires a functional sphincter (the circular muscles around the opening of the bladder) and a stable bladder wall muscle (detrusor).

The emptying phase requires the ability of the detrusor muscle to appropriately contract to force urine out of the bladder. Additionally, the body must also be able to simultaneously relax the sphincter to allow the urine to pass out of the body.