Why Do You Leak Urine?

3.04.2010 | By: S. M.

There are several possible causes of involuntary leakage of urine or urinary incontinence. Read on to get informed!

Urinary incontinence affects 5 to 10 per cent of people above the age of 35, or even 20 per cent according to some data.

Start talking about urinary incontinence

The term for involuntary leakage of urine is urinary incontinence. It can occur at any age, but it is more likely to develop the older you become. Urinary incontinence affects 5 to 10 percent of people or even 20 per cent of people above the age of 35 according to some data. 70 per cent of people do not seek medical assistance because they are embarrassed and unaware that there are others who also have the same problem. Many people do not tell anyone about the problem, not even their families. It is good to know that urinary incontinence should not be considered another trouble inevitably caused by ageing. In many cases, the problem can be effectively treated.

What are the causes of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is divided into fast or acute leakage of urine and slow or chronic leakage of urine. Acute urinary incontinence is often the consequence of urinary tract infections as well as the use of drugs, poor mobility, coffee, alcohol and severe constipation. Chronic urinary incontinence occurs because of changes to the brain, bladder or urethra, or changes to the nerves of the bladder.

Children between the age of five and ten can suffer from urinary incontinence because of the limited capacity of the bladder and the late development of the nerve pathways that transmit the level of urine in the bladder. This type of incontinence disappears when children grow older.

Urinary incontinence can be the consequence of drugs, poor mobility, coffee, alcohol and severe constipation.

Types of urinary incontinence

Urge incontinence

The cause is usually a transitional urinary tract infection. This is the most common type of incontinence in older people. It is caused by the bladder muscle which contracts too much (overactive bladder) as a result of a stroke, dementia and other neurological diseases, tumor, bladder stones as well as drugs. These patients have to pass urine more than eight times a day and often at night. Patients with this type of incontinence often do not have enough time to come to the toilet.

Stress incontinence

This is an uncontrollable leakage of urine when you cough, sneeze, lift something heavy, exercise or do other activities involving sudden pressure inside the abdomen and on the bladder. This is the most common form of incontinence in women, while in men, stress incontinence is usually caused by an operation.

Many people lead a secluded life because of urinary incontinence - they avoid social events and often don't tell anything to their friends.

In case of stress incontinence, if the pressure inside the abdomen is increased, women leak urine without control even when they cough, sneeze and laugh. The causes of stress incontinence can be hereditary, because of weak tissues – problems are more common in women who are physically inactive and overweight, or hormone-related – because of changes in menopause.

Also, it is important how many times a woman gave birth. Particularly vaginal birth has a considerable influence because it stretches and loosens pelvic floor muscles.

Moreover, heavy physical labor, which is unsuitable for women anyway, makes the problem even more serious.

Overflow incontinence

This is an uncontrollable leakage of small amounts of urine from a full bladder. Owing to chronic blockage, the bladder becomes too full and unresponsive. The pressure in the bladder increases to the point that urine starts leaking. Patients notice dribbling of urine and the dribble is very weak. The causes of this type of incontinence are the inability to contract the bladder and the blockage of urine outflow because of a urethral stricture, for instance in benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer. This type of incontinence can also be caused by constipation because a rectum full of faeces creates the pressure on the external urethral orifice.

Permanent incontinence

Permanent incontinence means that you leak urine during the day and night because of incomplete contraction of sphincter muscles. Women usually suffer from permanent incontinence after bladder and urethral injuries during childbirth and men usually have it after prostate surgery, but it can be congenital as well.

The major problem of urinary incontinence is actually the fact that people rarely want to talk about it and many of them do not seek professional help. Individuals who have this problem often start avoiding social events because they are afraid of the unpleasant smell and wet underwear. If you have this problem, you should know that it can be treated. To start with, see your physician!