Stress Incontinence Overview

Types of Urinary Incontinence

• Stress Incontinence: Most common type, linked to weakened pelvic floor muscles.
• Weakened muscles lead to urethral and bladder-neck mobility issues, causing incompetence of the urethral sphincter.
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure from activities like laughing, coughing, or exercise exacerbates the condition.
• Abdominal obesity contributes to higher pressure in the bladder, leading to urine leakage when sphincter fails to close.

Urgency Incontinence/Overactive Bladder (OAB)

• Characterized by leakage of moderate to large amounts of urine without the ability to delay voiding.
• Primary causes include detrusor muscle hyperactivity or instability, along with central nervous system disorders such as Parkinson's, stroke, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis.
• Certain cholinergic medications can also be a contributing factor.

Retention/Overflow Incontinence

• Occurs when urine leaks due to a distended bladder, typically caused by an underactive detrusor muscle.
• Common underlying conditions include diabetes, stroke, or bladder outlet obstruction, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• The pressure inside the bladder surpasses the resistance at the urinary outlet, leading to leakage.
• More frequently observed in males.

Mixed Incontinence

• This type typically presents symptoms of both urge and stress incontinence.

Functional Incontinence

• Defined as urine loss due to inability to reach or use the toilet, not related to lower urinary tract changes.
• Often a result of physical constraints affecting mobility.

Treatment Options

• Anticholinergic medications and antispasmodics are commonly used for treatment.
• Muscarinic antagonists include Oxybutynin, Tolterodine, Darifenacin, Solifenacin, Fesoterodine, and Trospium.
• These medications help manage symptoms and improve quality of life for individuals with various types of incontinence.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of stress incontinence, including its causes and symptoms. It discusses the role of weakened pelvic floor muscles and how increased intra-abdominal pressure can lead to urine leakage. Understand the relationship between urgency incontinence and overactive bladder.