Both men and women can suffer from urinary incontinence, which is a condition when a person doesn’t have full control of holding urine in the bladder that results in leakage. Women may have more reasons or causes to suffer from urinary incontinence than men. If you have the condition, you may want to check for McAllen gynecology clinics. In this post, we are sharing the types and symptoms of urinary incontinence. 

  • Stress incontinence. As the name suggests, this type of urinary incontinence is related to physical stress. This can happen to women after menopause or right after giving birth. Since the entire urinary system and pelvic area are already stressed, one may end up urinating unexpectedly, especially when exercising, coughing, or even sneezing. 
  • Reflex incontinence. This kind of urinary incontinence is related to the bladder. Causes may include a sudden change in position or even pressure during sex. Patients with a history of bladder diseases or nerve disorders may suffer from an overactive bladder, causing involuntary leaks.
  • Overflow incontinence. This is more common in men than women. As the name suggests, in this type of incontinence, the bladder cannot hold the urine produced in the body, and causes can include prostate problems or an overactive or damaged bladder. Urine may keep leaking in drips, often without the patient realizing the same.
  • Functional incontinence. This can happen to anyone and refers to a situation when a person cannot find a washroom to urinate and ends up with a urine leak. Such incontinence can also be related to age and conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and mental health issues. 
  • Mixed incontinence. If a patient has mixed incontinence, they may have the problem because of various problems at once. 

How is urinary incontinence treated?

If you have urinary incontinence, your doctor will suggest a few lab and imaging tests to rule out possible causes. Your medical history will play a dominant role in deciding the treatment plan. Exercise and Kegel exercise may help some patients, while medications can help with urinary incontinence. Interventional therapies can be used, besides Botox injections which can help in managing an overactive bladder. If none of the other treatment options is viable, surgery could be an option. Your doctor will try noninvasive options before considering surgery. 

Check online now to find more on urinary incontinence and talk to a doctor in McAllen today!