“I suffer from urinary leakage. I have read that there are several types of leakage and that knowing the type can help my physician determine the correct treatment for this. Can you help me with this?”

Answer: You are correct. Knowing the type of incontinence will help you and your physician in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. There are 3 main categories of urinary incontinence.

Urge incontinence is the most common and is characterized by the sudden urge to urinate and being unable to get to a bathroom in time before the leakage occurs. This type of incontinence is primarily treated with oral medication. If medication is not effective, then working with a physical therapist who specializes in conditions of the pelvis is an excellent option. Patients who do not have improvement with either of these options can receive excellent results from the use of Botox in the bladder or a technology known as sacral nerve stimulation.

Stress incontinence is the second most common type of incontinence and is characterized by the sudden loss of urine when an individual coughs, laughs, sneezes, jumps, runs, or puts any type of pressure on their abdomen. This type of incontinence is first treated by strengthening the muscles in the pelvis by doing “Kegel” exercises and/or working with a physical therapist. Another very effective option is a minor surgical procedure known as a urethral sling that will reestablish the support in the pelvis and is effective in 98% of the individuals who undergo this procedure.

Mixed incontinence is the third type of incontinence and is characterized by a combination of urge incontinence and stress incontinence. A significant number of individuals that suffer from this form of incontinence will see marked improvement with the same treatments that apply to urge incontinence. Occasionally a combination of the treatments used for both urge and stress incontinence is required.

Approximately 25-30% of the population of the United States suffer from some form of incontinence. So, your condition is quite common and your knowledge of the type of incontinence you suffer from will aide your physician in selecting the appropriate treatment for you.