Identifying incontinence: the signs that indicate bladder weakness

General signs, causes and symptoms of urinary incontinence

Incontinence, also commonly referred to as bladder weakness, comes in many forms and has many causes. For many people with incontinence, the condition negatively affects their self esteem and leads to social withdrawal.1 As an extremely intimate issue, it is understandable that people feel uncomfortable discussing the signs of incontinence among their wider circle of friends. And shame often inhibits people from seeking out medical help when the first symptoms of urinary incontinence develop. Those affected by incontinence are definitely not alone: Estimates indicate that about 9 million people currently have the same questions about incontinence.

It is possible to have an active and carefree life with incontinence. There are lifestyle changes, medications, pelvic floor exercises and quality products that can all help. But first, it is important to identify the symptoms and then have an open discussion about the condition, whether with a trusted person or your physician.

Let’s look at the signs that indicate bladder weakness and how you can support someone living with incontinence.

When and how much urine you lose may indicate what type of incontinence you have and how it can be treated.

The following types of incontinence are common:

• Stress incontinence: This type of incontinence develops if the pelvic floor muscles and/or the urethral sphincter muscles are damaged. Urine leaks out if you physically exert yourself. Triggers include lifting heavy objects or coughing, sneezing or laughing. Women are affected more often than men.




• Overflow incontinence (incontinence with chronic urinary retention) If the bladder cannot be emptied completely, this is called overflow incontinence. The urethra -, the tube that transports the urine -, is either constricted by a blockage and/or the bladder muscles are weakened. Overflow incontinence is particularly common in older men. The most frequence cause is that the urethra is blocked by an enlarged prostate.




• Urge incontinence: This form of incontinence is caused by bladder muscles that are either overactive or underactive. The urge to urinate is then abruptly triggered, even if the bladder is not full. Initially, the urine can often still be retained but a deterioration leads to uncontrolled loss of urine.




• Reflex incontinence: This type of incontinence happens due to a sudden spasm of the bladder's detrusor muscle. This can be the result of problems with the nervous system such as nerve damage, for instance, in the spinal cord or brain, lead to involuntary loss of urine.




• Extraurethral incontinence: This is sudden or constant loss of urine, for example, through fistulae caused by inflammation, trauma or cancer, or congenital anomalies. Fistulae are small passageways that can develop inside the body. If a fistula joins the bladder to the vagina or the rectum, urine dribbles through the fistula to the outside of the body.




• Mixed forms can also occur with the most common combination being a mixture of urge and stress incontinence.




• Temporary incontinence: After pregnancy or prostate surgery, many people experience temporary involuntary loss of urine. The symptoms often disappear completely.




• Faecal incontinence: A less common form of incontinence. Faecal incontinence means the involuntary passing of gas, liquid and/or solid stools.⁷

Contact a trusted physician if you identify that you have signs of bladder weakness. Therapeutic treatments can be very successful, particularly with less severe incontinence.