There are three main types of urinary incontinence:
Stress incontinence – This is a common type of incontinence experienced by women as they age and approach menopause. Women with stress incontinence involuntarily leak urine while coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercising, or lifting something.
With age, the pelvic muscles begin to weaken and the sudden pressure from sneezing, laughing, etc on the bladder wall results in urine leaking out.
Urge incontinence – Characterized by sudden, intense, and frequent urge to urinate, immediately followed by an uncontrollable loss of urine. The bladder contracts and may give a warning of only a few seconds or a minute to make it to the restroom. Urge incontinence strikes especially while sleeping, drinking, or while listening to running water.
Urge incontinence is also called as spastic bladder, overactive bladder, or reflex incontinence. This type of incontinence, where the need to urinate is more than seven times a day or more than twice each night, is common in elderly people.
Overflow incontinence – This is seen as frequent or constant dribbling urine. Those with overflow incontinence are unable to completely empty the bladder, which fills up and then overflows, causing leakage.
This type of incontinence is common with people who have damaged bladders or blocked urethras. It can also be a result of diabetic nerve damage
