Urinary Incontinence Etiology: Everything You Need To Know

Urinary incontinence is a common issue for many people, especially as they age. There are a number of possible causes for this condition and it is important to understand them so that treatment can be sought out.

In this blog post, we will discuss the most common etiologies of urinary incontinence. 

What are some signs or symptoms that you have trouble urinating?

Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise?

Urinary incontinence can be caused by anything from an infection to pregnancy complications to nerve damage from surgery on the bladder. It’s important to know what could cause your problem in order to seek proper treatment.

What is the etiology of incontinence?  

The etiology of incontinence is the underlying cause or reason for the problem.

Any number of things can contribute to urinary incontinence, including infections or damage to the muscles that control urination. Things like pregnancy complications and nerve damage could be the reason that you leak urine.  Although there may not be anything that you can do about some of the underlying causes, knowing what they are is essential for proper treatment.

How is urinary incontinence classified?  

There are five different types of urinary incontinence: stress, urge, overflow, functional and mixed.

• Stress incontinence occurs when coughing or sneezing causes the patient to lose urine.
• Urge incontinence occurs when patients feel like they have to urinate and cannot make it to a bathroom in time.  Urge incontinence can be caused by bladder infections, nerve damage, or diabetes.
• Overflow incontinence is the loss of urine due to an overfilled bladder.
• Functional incontinence occurs in patients that lose control of their bowels and bladder and could be due to a number of things, including Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
• Mixed incontinence is the combination of two or more types of incontinence.  Combining stress, urge and overflow are some common causes of mixed incontinence.

Categorizing urinary incontinence can help you to get a better idea of what treatment options might be right for your specific problem. 

Some categories, like functional and mixed incontinence, may require care from a physician or other medical professional. It’s important that you get the proper treatment for your condition in order to prevent further problems with your bladder or other bodily functions.

What are some common etiologies of urinary incontinence?

The most common etiologies of urinary incontinence are pregnancy complications, nerve damage, bladder problems, and weakened muscles. 

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and prostate problems could also cause incontinence. However, it is less common for these to be the cause of a problem with urinary control.   
• Pregnancy complications like hemorrhoids or uterine fibroids can contribute to stress incontinence after childbirth. 
• Nerve damage can be caused by surgery, diabetes, or other medical conditions. It is also common for nerve damage to result from physical harm to the body, such as injuries sustained during an accident. Nerve damage can cause stress incontinence or urge incontinence.
• Some medications could also cause nerve damage that leads to urinary incontinence. 
• Prostate problems can cause urinary incontinence as well as erectile dysfunction (ED).   
• Bladder problems like kidney stones and bladder cancer could cause overflow or functional incontinence.
• Weakness in the pelvic floor muscles that help control urination is another potential cause of urinary incontinence.    

Who are some common at-risk populations for urinary incontinence?  

Common risk groups who experience urinary incontinence include people with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), stroke victims, and elderly patients. 

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause incontinence in young women, especially after childbirth.
• Pregnant women are also at risk for experiencing urinary incontinence because of pressure on the bladder or constipation that can increase pressure within the abdomen. 
• Urinary tract infections are more common in men over 60 years old.
• If you have diabetes, you could have nerve damage that leads to incontinence.   
• If you have experienced a stroke or brain injury, you could be at risk for neurogenic urinary incontinence.   
• In addition, patients with spinal cord injuries are at risk for incontinence.