RESOURCES / INCONTINENCE 101

19 million women and you.

Did you know that over 19 million women in the US live with urinary incontinence? That’s a pretty staggering number considering how rarely we hear women talk about living with this condition.

This common-yet-stigmatized topic leads many women to struggle in silence, rarely even opening up to their health care providers.

We’re here to help, to be your trusted resource on all things urinary incontinence.

What is urinary incontinence?

A deeper dive into how to characterize your leaks.

Urinary incontinence, or UI, is simply the loss of urine beyond your control. Let’s discuss the basics of UI to help shed light on what kind of condition you might be experiencing.

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Did you know?

25 MILLION

American adults suffer from
urinary incontinence.

Of those 25 million,

75-80%
ARE WOMEN.

On average, women wait

6 YEARS

to seek a diagnosis for their
bladder control problems.

WHAT CAUSES UI?

Urinary incontinence is not a disease, but rather a symptom caused by weakening of the pelvic floor, underlying medical conditions, or even just everyday habits.

It is important to consult a health care professional to identify what type of UI you have, as well as help determine what underlying issues might be causing your bladder leakage. This is essential in understanding how best to manage, improve, or even cure your bladder leakage..

Keep in mind that the following are common triggers for UI.

PREGNANCY

CHEMOTHERAPY

CHILDBIRTH

HYSTERECTOMY

MENOPAUSE

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF UI

Urinary incontinence is typically divided into four categories:

Each type of UI is defined by the triggers that cause bladder leakage. However, one’s experience is not limited to these four types, as it is possible, for example, to experience a mix of stress and urge incontinence.

Stress

Leakage that occurs during physical stress/activity such as (but not limited to) sneezing, coughing, laughing, and exercise.

Urge

Leakage that occurs from the sudden urge to urinate that one is unable to, or has difficulty, delaying.

Overflow

Leakage that occurs when the bladder doesn’t empty completely or properly, leading to leaks later when the bladder becomes overfull.

Functional

Leakage that occurs dues to one’s inability to reach a toilet before urinating. In this case, one’s bladder is functioning perfectly well, but the person’s mobility or cognitive challenges lead to incontinence.

Types of Urinary Incontinence?

IS TREATMENT POSSIBLE?

YES! From behavioral changes and exercises to therapies and surgeries, there are many ways to mitigate or even cure your urinary incontinence.

Do not hesitate to consult your healthcare provider. Though UI is common, it is not something you have to accept and suffer through alone. Treatment options vary based on what kind of UI you have, as well as what other underlying issues you may be experiencing.

Urinary Incontinence Treatments