Urinary Incontinence (Print Version)

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Urinary Incontinence

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/urinaryincontinence.html

Also called: Also called: Overactive bladder

Urinary incontinence is loss of bladder control. Symptoms can range from mild leaking to uncontrollable wetting. It can happen to anyone, but it becomes more common with age.

Most bladder control problems happen when muscles are too weak or too active. If the muscles that keep your bladder closed are weak, you may have accidents when you sneeze, laugh or lift a heavy object. This is stress incontinence. If bladder muscles become too active, you may feel a strong urge to go to the bathroom when you have little urine in your bladder. This is urge incontinence or overactive bladder. There are other causes of incontinence, such as prostate problems and nerve damage.

Treatment depends on the type of problem you have and what best fits your lifestyle. It may include simple exercises, medicines, special devices or procedures prescribed by your doctor, or surgery.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Urinary Incontinence(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/urinary.asp
Urinary Incontinence: Embarrassing but Treatable(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/gen-health/189.printerview.html

Overviews

Controlling Urinary Incontinence(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2005/505_incontinence.html
Loss of Bladder Control(Food and Drug Administration, Office of Women's Health) - http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/bladderControl.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/spanish/bladderControl-spanish.html
Urinary Incontinence(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/urinary-incontinence/DS00404/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

Latest News

Gel Effective for Women with Overactive Bladder(05/04/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83787.html

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Cystoscopy - Men(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopymale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopymalespanish/htm/index.htm
Cystoscopy - Women(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopyfemale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopyfemalespanish/htm/index.htm
Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cystoscopy/
Daily Bladder Diary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/diary/index.htm
Imaging of the Urinary Tract(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/imagingut/
Urodynamic Testing(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/urodynamic/index.htm

Treatment

Evaluating Prescription Drugs Used to Treat Overactive Bladder(Consumers Union of U.S.) - Links to PDF - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Overactive_Bladder-FINAL.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/CU%20BBD%20Bladder%202%20pg.sp[1].pdf
Kegel Exercises: How to Strengthen Pelvic Floor Muscles(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/kegel-exercises/WO00119/METHOD=print
Urinary Incontinence Surgery: When Other Treatments Aren't Enough(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/urinary-incontinence-surgery/WO00126/METHOD=print

Prevention/Screening

Urinary Incontinence: Prevention(American Urogynecologic Society) - http://www.mypelvichealth.org/TreatmentPrevention/BladderControlProblems/Prevention/tabid/115/Default.aspx

Disease Management

Coping with Bladder Problems(Food and Drug Administration) - Links to PDF - http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/bladprb.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/sbladprb.html
Managing Bladder Dysfunction with Products and Devices(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=390
Urinary Incontinence: Incontinence Products to Help Keep You Dry(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/incontinence-products/WO00124/METHOD=print
Urinary Incontinence: Bladder Training(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/common-older/798.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/seniors/common-older/798.printerview.html

Specific Conditions

Nerve Disease and Bladder Control(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/nervedisease/index.htm
Neurogenic Bladder(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=109
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=109
Overactive Bladder(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/overactive-bladder/DS00827/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Stress Incontinence(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stress-incontinence/DS00828/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all

Related Issues

Your Joint Replacement: Urological Procedures & Antibiotics(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00383

Health Check Tools

Urinary Incontinence(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/urinary-incontinence/visit-virtual-doctor.htm

Tutorials

Cystoscopy - Men(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopymale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopymalespanish/htm/index.htm
Cystoscopy - Women(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/cystoscopyfemale/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/cystoscopyfemalespanish/htm/index.htm

Videos

"TVT" Procedure for Urinary Incontinence(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=231
Innovative Incontinence Surgery:The Male Sling(OR-Live) - One hour program - 9/21/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/seh_2236/rnh.cfm?id=766
Neuromodulation for Overactive Bladder(OR-Live) - One hour program - 1/30/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/med_2184/rnh.cfm?id=691

Anatomy/Physiology

Your Urinary System and How It Works(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yoururinary/

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Bladder, Overactive(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Urinary+Bladder,+Overactive%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Incontinence(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Urinary+Incontinence%22

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Prompted voiding yields results. CNAs are key to the success... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19326800&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Distal urethral polypropylene sling surgical management for urodynamic stress incontinence... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19322009&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Cost-effectiveness of botulinum toxin a versus anticholinergic medications for idiopathic... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19296983&tool=MedlinePlus
Urinary Incontinence -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=urinary+incontinence[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Urologic Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/udictionary/

Directories

Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
Find a Urogynecologist(American Urogynecologic Society) - http://www.mypelvichealth.org/FindaProvider/tabid/75/Default.aspx
Find a Urologist(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/html/index.asp
Nurse Referral Center(Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society) - http://www.wocncenter.com/public/member_directory.cfm

Organizations

American Urogynecologic Society - http://www.augs.org/
American Urological Association - http://www.auanet.org/
National Association for Continence - http://www.nafc.org/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/

Statistics

Statistics(National Association for Continence) - http://www.nafc.org/media/statistics/

MedlinePlus Magazine

Incontinent? You're Not Alone - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/fall08/articles/fall08pg27-28.html

Children

Urinary Incontinence in Children(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uichildren/

Men

Urinary Incontinence in Men(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uimen/index.htm

Women

Bladder Control for Women(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/bcw_ez/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/bcw_ez/index.htm
Bladder Control Problems in Women: Lifestyle Strategies for Relief(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bladder-control-problem/WO00122/METHOD=print
Cystocele(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cystocele/DS00665/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Cystocele (Fallen Bladder)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/cystocele/
Exercising Your Pelvic Muscles(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pdf/exercise_ez.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/exercise/index.htm
Menopause and Bladder Control(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pdf/menopause_ez.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/menopause/index.htm
Pregnancy, Childbirth and Bladder Control(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pdf/pregnancy_ez.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/pregnancy/index.htm
Talking to Your Health Care Team about Bladder Control(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pdf/talk_ez.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/talk/
Urinary Incontinence(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp081.cfm
Urinary Incontinence in Women(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/uiwomen/index.htm
Vaginal Pessary(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/reproductive/gynecologic/578.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/reproductive/gynecologic/578.printerview.html
What I Need to Know about Bladder Control for Women(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/bcw_ez/index.htm

Seniors

Eldercare at Home: Incontinence(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging) - http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/eldercare/10.xml
Urinary Incontinence(AGS Foundation for Health in Aging) - http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/chapters_ch_trial.asp?ch=20

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Urinary Tract Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/urinarytractinfections.html
Kidneys and Urinary System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneysandurinarysystem.html
Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Urinary Incontinence is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Urinary Incontinence - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/urinaryincontinence.html

Date last updated: May 05 2009

Topic last reviewed: December 16 2008