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Overview
Female incontinence
Urinary incontinence, when urine leaks out from the bladder when you don’t want it to, can affect women of all ages.
For some women, urine leakage occurs with coughing, laughing or with exercise. Other women may have a sudden urge to use the bathroom, and leak before they can get to the toilet. Women with urine leakage may stop activities they enjoy. You might feel embarrassed. You may worry about not being able to quickly find a bathroom.
- 40percent
- Number of women by age 40 affected by urinary incontinence
Symptoms and diagnosis
Making a diagnosis
We will ask you about your symptoms and your medical history, including childbirth history and any past surgeries.
A gentle physical examination will be done and you may be asked to complete a bladder diary where you will keep track of urine leakage, fluid intake and any discomfort for a day or two. The diary helps find behavior changes to improve your symptoms.
Tests to find the cause and type of your condition
In some cases, your doctor may recommend tests to find the cause of your incontinence. Your doctor will discuss these tests with you and explain how they are performed. These tests could include:
Bladder capacity test
Measures how much urine your bladder can hold.
Bladder stress test
Checks for urine leakage when you cough.
Cystoscopy
Looks inside your urethra and bladder using a thin tube with a camera
Residual urine test
Measures how much urine is left in your bladder after you urinate. This could be done with a catheter or with a bladder scan.
Urinalysis
Tests your urine for infection, urinary stones or other problems.
Urodynamics
Measures your bladder pressure and urine flow.
Causes of incontinence
Urine leakage can happen at any age and becomes more common as you get older. Being pregnant, giving birth and the changes of menopause weaken pelvic floor muscles which puts pressure on the bladder. Nerve damage from conditions like multiple sclerosis, obesity or diabetes also can cause urine to leak
Types of incontinence
There are different types of female incontinence:
Stress incontinence
This is due to a weak urethra tube. Urine leaks when you cough, laugh, lift something heavy or sneeze. Some women experience only an occasional problem. Others have severe or frequent leakage.
Overactive bladder
This is due to an irritated bladder. You might urinate frequently (day or night), or feel a strong urge to urinate all of a sudden. You might leak a little or completely lose all of your urine.
Overflow incontinence
This is due to a weak bladder, or a tight urethra tube. Your bladder doesn't empty properly, so this leads to leakage.
Mixed urinary incontinence
You have symptoms of stress incontinence and overactive bladder.
Treatments and research
Your treatment options
Treatment for bladder leakage depends on the type of incontinence, as they each have different causes. We will talk with you about the range of treatment options for your type of bladder leakage.
Nonsurgical treatments
Behavior modification
You change how much and when you drink and use the bathroom at scheduled times. This retrains your bladder.
Physical therapy
A physical therapist works with you on behavior modification, education and exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
Exercises
Kegel exercises strengthen your pelvic floor and bladder muscles.
Biofeedback
You use devices to measure your muscle strength while performing pelvic floor muscle exercises.
Insertable devices
A ring-shaped device called a pessary is placed in your vagina. The pessary supports your bladder or uterus. This takes pressure off your bladder.
Medications
There are medicines that control urge incontinence. They work best when taken for long-term use.
Surgical treatments
Urethra injections
A treatment for when the urethra is weak, a bulking agent like collagen is injected near the opening of your bladder. This narrows the opening and reduces leakage.
Botox injections
If the bladder muscle is too tense or the bladder spasms, Botox can be injected into the bladder wall using a cystoscope (a thin camera placed through the urethra tube). This causes the bladder muscle to relax and reduces leaking.
Neuromodulation
A device like a pacemaker is implanted into the low back to stimulate the bladder nerves. If your urge incontinence doesn't respond to behavioral changes or medicine, this may be a good option for you.
Slings
Surgery repairs weakened tissue to support the urethra. A mesh material called a sling is placed to support the urethra. Another option uses a tissue graft from your own body to create a sling.
Meet our team
Seamless, patient-centered care
At UW Health, you see a team of urogynecologists who completed extra training to treat these health issues. Your care might include combined treatment from specialists in pelvic floor physical therapy, urology and urogynecology.
Our providers
Locations
Comprehensive care all in one place
At the UW Health Women’s Pelvic Wellness Clinic in Madison, Wis., you get care from a variety of specialists. All of them are experts in treating pelvic floor disorders — including incontinence.
Patient and support services