How does Urinary Incontinence appear?
Urinary incontinence can appear in several ways:
1) Overactive Bladder
Sudden urge for urinating where you may not reach the toilet in time and frequent urination.
It is estimated that app. 60.000 women suffers from an overactive bladder.
The urge for urinating comes like a bolt from the blue and with so short warning that the toilet is not reached in time. The bladder empties completely or partially without being able to control it. Typically, it concerns large amounts of urine at every case of urinary incontinence. It is not few drops that can be collected in a sanitary towel; on the contrary it is a large urination that is very visible. Pain may occur during this form of urinary incontinence.
Frequent urination – meaning more than 8 times a day – is also typical. Most people wake up several times a night with an urge for urination.
Those who suffer from overactive bladder are very conscious about where the toilet is. The first thing they look for when going somewhere new is a toilet – just in case! Longer travels in car or plane are avoided because it is so important to be able to reach a toilet quickly.
2) Stress-Triggered Urinary incontinence
Urination in connection with physical activity like coughing, sneezing, laughter or running. It is the most common form of urinary incontinence.
With this condition, urinary incontinence appears in connection with physical activity. Typically, it is smaller amounts of urine that ‘leaks’ – maybe just a few drops. The condition can be more or less troublesome. Some women have a few drops when they lift heavy objects or exercise while others ‘leak’ in connection with less exertion. Most experience dripping in connection with laughter, sneezing and cough.
Women with stress-triggered urinary incontinence sleeps well at night and can easily reach a toilet when they feel the urge. Neither do they feel anything before urinary incontinence occurs. Precisely on these points, you are able to distinguish between an overactive bladder and stress-triggered urinary incontinence.
Those who suffer from stress-triggered urinary incontinence try to avoid physical activity. Many use sanitary towels or diapers when they are at work or exercise.
3) A mixture of the first two
Both overactive bladder and stress-triggered urination. If you have problems with both a sudden urge to urinate where you cannot reach the toilet and you on top of that ‘leak’ in connection with physical activity you are doubly affected. Obviously, this form of urinary incontinence is very troublesome.
Some are most bothered by drip during exertion while others are more bothered by the sudden urge for urination.