Overflow Incontinence

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People who suffer from overflow incontinence are often unable to feel the urge to urinate, which causes urine to leak out of the bladder when it is full; or they misinterpret this urge and feel that their bladder is never empty. Overflow incontinence therefore affects people in two main ways: either they find urine leaking out throughout the day; or they have to make many frequent trips to the toilet over the course of the day but feel as if they can never fully empty their bladder. When someone has to make frequent trips to the toilet during the night, this condition is called nocturia.

This type of incontinence is sometimes caused when the bladder has been over-stretched, and is often caused when there is something obstructing the flow of urine, such as a tumour or urinary stone. It is often found in men who have an enlarged prostate gland, and is much less common in women.

Overflow incontinence is sometimes treated with medication – however, this can lead to side effects including fatigue, dizziness and headaches. If the cause of overflow incontinence is some kind of obstruction, such as an enlarged prostate, then surgery may be necessary.