Types of Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence is defined as sudden loss of urinary control with a cough or sneeze or other activities like running or jumping. There are risk factors for this type of incontinence related to childbirth. They include advanced age of the mother, large size of the baby, multiple vaginal deliveries and episiotomy which is when a surgical cut is made into the pelvic muscles to allow passage of the baby.

Urge incontinence occurs when you have to urinate suddenly and urgently multiple times during the day or night and cannot quite make it to the restroom as a result. This is often called an “overactive bladder” or by doctors “detrusor instability.”

Mixed urinary incontinence is a combination of these 2 types.

Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder completely fills up and then urine starts to leak out.

Functional incontinence occurs when there are other mobility problems that make it difficult to get to the restroom or when cognitive impairments hinder the process.