What Is Overflow Incontinence?

Many people often wonder if they are suffering from overflow incontinence. If you’re wondering, too, this article will help explain the symptoms and what to do about them.

Overflow incontinence is when your bladder can’t empty all of its contents at once – so some urine stays in the bladder until it’s emptied later on.

This article will go over how to know if overflow incontinence is something you might have and what treatment options exist for this common condition. 

Read on!

What is Overflow Incontinence?

Overflow incontinence isn’t a condition of its own. It’s a common symptom of another condition – usually an enlarged prostate or bladder.

Basically, overflow incontinence happens when the muscles in your urinary tract aren’t strong enough to fully empty your bladder.

Imagine a water balloon. If you fill it up all the way and tie off the end, then press it into the ground, the water inside will stay there until you release it by untying the knot.

This is similar to what happens when you have overflow incontinence – your bladder fills with urine and can’t empty out completely. Because of this, the excess urine remains until you empty your bladder later on.

Symptoms of Overflow Incontinence

The main symptom for overflow incontinence is having to urinate again – and again, and again.

You might have to go every hour or two, even if it’s just a small amount that you’re urinating.  

You might also experience pain in your bladder or lower pelvic region when you go to the bathroom.

If you’re suffering from overflow incontinence, these are two tell-tale signs that you should look out for. 

Causes of Overflow Incontinence

There are a few different causes for your having to urinate over and over again – here’s a look at what the most common ones are.

An Enlarged Prostate One of the more common causes of overflow incontinence is an enlargement in your prostate gland, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH for short.

The prostate gland sits near the bladder, and it’s where semen is created. When you get older your prostate starts to grow – and this can cause problems if the gland grows too much.

An enlarged prostate means that the urinary tract doesn’t have enough room, so urine stays in your bladder until you urinate it out.

A Bladder Infection Another common cause for overflowing incontinence is a bladder infection.

These are usually pretty easy to notice, as you’ll have a burning sensation when you urinate or feel like you have to go often – but can’t.

Bladder Stones

Lastly, bladder stones can cause overflow incontinence and the need of going all the time.  

The main way that doctors tell the difference between overflow incontinence and bladder stones is by the location of the pain – if you’re experiencing pain in your lower abdomen or pelvis, then it’s most likely an infection.

If you have a sharp pain in your side when urinating, then it may be because of kidney stones.

Overflow incontinence is a symptom. That means that it’s usually caused by another condition – which can be serious if left untreated.   

If you’re experiencing this over and over again, then it might be time to see your doctor for a diagnosis.