What is Urge Incontinence?

Urge incontinence is a type of urinary incontinence, or leaks, that is caused by an overactive bladder. It is often the result of nerve damage or injury to the bladder muscles. Urge incontinence can cause people to lose control of their bladder and leak urine unexpectedly. It can also cause people to feel a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate.

Nerve damage can prevent the bladder muscles from relaxing properly. This can lead to an overactive bladder and urge incontinence.

Injury to the bladder muscles can make them unable to hold urine properly. This can also lead to an overactive bladder and urge incontinence.

Bladder stones are small deposits that can form in the bladder. They can irritate the bladder and cause urgency and frequency of urination.

Some medications, such as diuretics, anticholinergics, and beta-blockers, can increase urine production and lead to urge incontinence.

Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken the pelvic floor muscles and nerves. This may lead to an overactive bladder and urge incontinence.

 There are several medications that can help treat urge incontinence, such as anticholinergics, beta-3 agonists, and botulinum toxin injections.

• Anticholinergics work by relaxing the detrusor muscle and decreasing urges to urinate. Examples of anticholinergics include oxybutynin, trospium chloride, solifenacin succinate, darifenacin hydrobromide, fesoterodine fumarate, and mirabegron.
• Beta-3 agonists are a new class of medications that help relax the detrusor muscle and decrease urges to urinate. The only FDA-approved beta-3 agonist medication is mirabegron (Myrbetriq).
• Botulinum toxin injections work by temporarily paralyzing the detrusor muscle. This helps to decrease urges to urinate and urinary frequency. Botulinum toxin injections are usually reserved for people who do not respond well to other treatment options

Pelvic floor muscle exercises, also called Kegel exercises, help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Stronger pelvic floor muscles may help reduce or prevent leaks by providing support for the bladderneck sphincter (the valve that controls urine flow).

Bladder training helps retrain the bladder so that it can hold urine for longer periods of time without leaking. Bladder training involves gradually increasing the intervals between trips to the bathroom over a period of weeks or months until you are able to control when you urinate.

Electrical stimulation therapy uses electrical impulses to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles and/or nerves responsible for urinary function. Electrical stimulation therapy may help reduce urinary frequency, urgency, and leakage by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles or re-educating the nerves that control urinary function.

Urge incontinence is a type of urinary incontinence that is caused by an overactive bladder. It is often the result of nerve damage or injury to the bladder muscles Americans experience UI at some point in their lives—and women are twice as likely as men to develop UI.. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments available today for those who suffer from UI.. If you think you may have UI, talk to your doctor about possible treatment options.. With proper diagnosis and treatment, UI does not have to be a permanent condition.. You can regain control over your life—and your bladder.