How many types of urinary incontinency are there?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on April 07, 2025
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Urinary incontinence is currently mainly divided into stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence, overflow urinary incontinence, and true urinary incontinence. The main symptom of stress urinary incontinence is urine leakage from the urethra during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jumping rope. Urge urinary incontinence is commonly seen in acute bladder inflammation, people with diabetes, and those with sclerotic bladder necks, leading to situations of urge incontinence. The main manifestation is a sudden strong urge to urinate, requiring immediate action to urinate; if not managed in time, urine will leak from the urethra. Overflow incontinence, commonly found in lower urinary tract obstructions, especially in elderly men with prostate enlargement, causes overflow incontinence due to urethral blockage, characterized by a distinct feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen.

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Is it normal to have urinary incontinence with morning sickness during pregnancy?

Morning sickness and urinary incontinence are considered normal phenomena. If severe nausea and vomiting occur after pregnancy, it could increase abdominal pressure, leading to stress urinary incontinence. This condition is thought to be caused by the relaxation of pelvic floor muscles. It is crucial to actively engage in pelvic floor rehabilitation after childbirth to aid the recovery of the pelvic floor, to prevent symptoms like urinary incontinence and leakage when coughing postpartum. The best period for pelvic floor recovery is between 42 days to six months after childbirth. Engaging in pelvic floor rehabilitation during this period is beneficial for recovery. The longer the delay, the slower and more challenging the recovery will be.

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What are the clinical manifestations of urinary incontinence?

The clinical manifestation of urinary incontinence is primarily the involuntary leakage of urine, where the patient lacks the ability to control urination. Diagnosis mainly involves reviewing the patient's medical history and a physical examination, which in most cases is sufficient to understand the type and cause of the incontinence. A urodynamic test is crucial for a definitive diagnosis. The contents of the urodynamic examination include the assessment of bladder and urethral function. If a patient exhibits the aforementioned symptoms, they should visit the urology department of a hospital for formal evaluation and treatment.

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How is stress urinary incontinence treated?

Stress urinary incontinence primarily occurs when activities like coughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects, or jumping rope cause a sudden increase in negative pressure, leading to urine leakage from the urethral opening. For the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, it is important to determine the severity of the condition. For mild stress urinary incontinence, improvement can be achieved through exercises that strengthen the urinary sphincter and the pelvic floor muscles. For moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence, surgical intervention is recommended, mainly through mid-urethral sling procedures to manage urination. Patients should also take care to minimize activities that suddenly increase abdominal pressure, such as lifting heavy objects, laughing heartily, or sneezing.

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Can elderly people with prostate enlargement experience urinary incontinence?

In the advanced stages of lower urinary tract obstructive diseases caused by prostate enlargement, overflow urinary incontinence can occur. After chronic urinary retention caused by prostate enlargement, if the bladder is extremely full, the pressure inside the bladder can exceed the resistance of the normal urethral sphincter, allowing urine to overflow through the urethra. Additionally, pressure incontinence can also be caused by damage to the external urethral sphincter or to the perineal and urethral areas following prostate surgery due to prostate enlargement.

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Where is there a specialty for urinary incontinence?

Generally speaking, urinary incontinence falls under the category of urology, though some aspects could also be seen by specialists in men's health, who can effectively treat symptoms of urinary incontinence. Generally, it is recommended that patients seek examination and treatment in public hospitals, as the treatment provided in private hospitals is often not as reliable. For patients with urinary incontinence, it is advisable to consult the urology department if visiting a hospital. The urology department primarily deals with diseases of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Typically, urinary incontinence involves issues with the urethra or bladder, which can lead to incontinence. Therefore, it is advisable for patients to visit a reputable public hospital and consult the urology department.