Uninary Incontinence Factsheet

By Tom Jarvis, Urological Surgeon

What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. It means having ‘poor bladder control’ or leaking urine when you don’t want to. 
 
How common in urinary incontinence in Australia?
Probably one-in-three women, one-in-ten men and one-in-five children have urinary incontinence. This makes it a very common problem. You, or someone you know, are likely affected. Sometimes you may feel like you’re the only one because people don’t really talk about it – but you’re not alone.
 
Is urinary incontinence part of normal aging?
Absolutely not! While urinary incontinence is more common as people get older, it can affect people of any age. And it is definitely not considered normal – it usually indicates that something is not right. 
 
Is it because my bladder is too small?
Usually not. The main types of incontinence are stress (because of weakness of the pelvic muscles/ligaments that can’t hold urine back effectively) or urge (because of an overactive bladder that squeezes at the wrong time).  
 
Is uniranry incontinence dangerous?
Occasionally – it can be a sign of infection, cancer, or another serious health problem. Although, most of the time it is not dangerous and just has a huge impact on quality of life. People become scared of leaking urine in public or people noticing that they smell. They often worry about leaving home, visiting friends, or exercising. Often it can make people distressed, embarrassed, depressed, or anxious.
 
Are there any risk factors?
Yes – there are several physical and health conditions that can increase your risk of having urinary incontinence. These include pregnancy, menopause, obesity, urinary tract infections, constipation, surgeries (such as prostatectomy or hysterectomy), reduced mobility preventing you from getting to the toilet, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis, health conditions (diabetes, stroke, heart conditions, respiratory conditions, prostate problems), and some medications. Although sometimes, there is no reason at all…
 
Can men get incontinence?
Although it is usually more common for women, men can still experience incontinence at any age. Men can have stress incontinence – often after prostate surgery. They can often get urge incontinence from large prostates causing a blockage. Sometimes, they won’t have any blockage, but will have leakage anyway.
 
Who can help?
Seeing your GP is usually the best starting point. Depending on the type of incontinence you have, they will exclude nasty causes and suggest treatments. Sometimes they will refer you to a physiotherapist or continence nurse. Other times it might be best to see a specialist, such as a urologist or urogynaecologist. There are great resources available from the Continence Foundation of Australia (www.continence.org.au). 
 
What treatments are available for incontinence?
Lots and lots! There are simple treatments like pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder training and fluid management (making sure you drink enough water - but not too much! Medications can also make a huge difference for many people. There are even surgical options available when more simple treatments aren’t effective. There is usually an effective solution available for everyone.
 
Is there anything I can eat, drink or do to prevent incontinence?
Having a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, avoiding constipation and making sure you maintain a healthy weight are ways to reduce your risk of incontinence – and so many other health problems.