Involuntary urine loss, bladder weakness or incontinence is as common as high blood pressure. But hardly anyone talks about it because of fear and shame. However, our understanding of the causes and possible treatments of involuntary urine loss has progressed enormously in the past few years, so that effective treatment of bladder disorders and urinary incontinence is now available to almost any sufferer, whether they are a man, woman or child, leading to a significant improvement in their quality of life. Involuntary urine loss is a serious problem for anyone affected, irrespective of age and sex.
The three most common forms of urinary incontinence are:
- stress incontinence
- urge incontinence
- incontinence in people who find it difficult or impossible to empty their bladder completely, which also used to be known as overflow incontinence
There are also mixed forms and much rarer forms caused by anatomical or disease-related factors.
Incontinence in women
After the age of fifty, one in two women notice bladder incontinence associated with physical stress, such as when coughing or playing sport. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men, as they become older or if they have had several children. But typical symptoms of an irritable bladder, such as a more frequent and more pronounced urge to pass urine, a shorter warning time before the individual needs to pass urine, and incontinence associated with an urge (urge incontinence), are also increasingly common in women over 50.
Incontinence in men
Over the age of 50, the prostate in men often triggers the urge to urinate and means that they have the inconvenience of having to get up in the night to urinate. As the prostate slowly becomes enlarged, it increasingly constricts the flow of urine and consequently irritates the bladder. This often results in the need to pass urine at night frequently, a more frequent and stronger urge to pass urine in general, with a short warning time, and urge incontinence.
Incontinence in children
Very young children have no control over bladder voiding. As bladder control develops, the child becomes able to control his or her bladder consciously, first during the day and later also at night. Bladder malfunction in children is a complex issue, and organic, neurological and psychological aspects must be taken into account.
For more information about paediatric urology at the KontinenzZentrum Hirslanden, click here.
Incontinence after surgery
After prostate surgery, incontinence is often the biggest problem. For more information on incontinence after prostate surgery, click here.
Bladder problems and involuntary urine loss can also be caused by prolapse surgery, spinal surgery, pelvic surgery and surgery to treat uterine cancer, etc. For more information on the consequences of prolapse of the bladder and other pelvic organs, click here.
Nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, stroke or Parkinson’s disease can trigger bladder malfunction or incontinence.
For more information about neurourology, click here.