The most common forms are:
- Stress incontinence: This occurs during physical exertion such as coughing, sneezing or lifting. It is common in women after childbirth or hormonal changes during menopause, but can also affect men, particularly after prostate surgery.
- Urge incontinence: In this form, those affected suddenly feel a very strong urge to urinate that they cannot control. Causes may include bladder infections, bladder tumours, or neurological conditions.
- Mixed incontinence: This is a combination of stress and urge incontinence.
- Overflow incontinence: This occurs when the bladder does not empty completely, causing urine to leak involuntarily, even when the person does not want it to. It may be caused by weak bladder muscles or blockages in the urethra.
- Reflex incontinence: This occurs when an injury to the spinal cord or brain leads to involuntary leakage of urine, as the urge to urinate is no longer consciously perceived.
The term “incontinence” is often used as an umbrella term for both urinary and faecal incontinence, especially in physiotherapy contexts. Both forms of incontinence often share similar treatment approaches, particularly when it comes to strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and using non-invasive therapies. However, in the case of faecal incontinence, there are specific causes and treatment methods aimed directly at bowel control, which may differ from those used for urinary incontinence.
