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Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Health Center

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Symptoms

The main symptom of urinary incontinence is a problem controlling urination. The circumstances and type of problem affecting urination vary with the cause.

Symptoms of stress incontinence involve the involuntary release of urine, especially when coughing, sneezing, or laughing. It is the most common type of urinary incontinence in women. It usually results in a small to moderate amount of urine leaked.

Symptoms of urge incontinence include the need to urinate frequently and a sudden, urgent, and uncontrollable need to urinate. It can result in a moderate to large amount of urine leaked, although it often occurs when the bladder contains only a small amount of urine.

It is common for a woman to have mixed incontinence, usually a combination of stress and urge incontinence.

To find out what type of incontinence you may have, ask yourself the following questions.

Stress incontinence
Do you sometimes leak urine during exercise or lifting? Yes No
Do you sometimes leak urine when you cough, laugh, or sneeze? Yes No
Do you usually leak a small to moderate amount of urine? Yes No

 

Urge incontinence
Do you have frequent, strong, sudden urges to urinate? Yes No
Do you sometimes leak urine before you can get to the toilet? Yes No
Do you sometimes feel the urge to urinate when you hear water or put your hands in water? Yes No
Do you usually leak a moderate to large amount of urine (enough so that it runs down your legs)? Yes No

 

If you answered "Yes" to one or more questions in the top table, you may have stress incontinence. If you answered "Yes" to one or more questions in the bottom table, you may have urge incontinence. You may have mixed incontinence if you answered "Yes" to one or more questions in each section.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 22, 2006
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
Next Article:

ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:

  • · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
  • · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
  • · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.

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