Types of Incontinence

There are various different forms of incontinence, including:

• Stress incontinence
• Urge incontinence
• Overflow incontinence
• Functional incontinence
• Reflex incontinence
• Incontinence as a side effect of surgery

Most cases of incontinence will involve someone having problems with the frequency or urgency of urination – they will either have to pass urine frequently within a 24 hour period, or will often experience the sudden and uncontrollable urge to urinate. Approximately 90% of all cases of incontinence are either stress or urge incontinence, although some people will have symptoms consistent with both types of incontinence – this is known as mixed type incontinence. As each form of incontinence has a different cause, so the treatments will vary. The bladder is a complicated system, and is dependent upon many different muscles and nerves operating correctly. The failure of any one of these can result in loss of bladder control and incontinence.

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