Adult Care

There are two types of incontinence: urinary incontinence and faecal incontinence. Both types of incontinence have their own symptoms.

Urinary Incontinence

There are different types of urinary incontinence. These are the four most common types.

Stress incontinence

With stress incontinence, you lose urine when there is pressure on your bladder. For example when coughing and sneezing. Or during certain efforts such as laughing, lifting, climbing stairs, running or jumping. That is why it is also called exercise incontinence. It is the most common form of urinary incontinence in women. Changes in the urethra due to, for example, childbirth or menopause are possible causes. In men, a malfunctioning urethra is often the cause.

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence (or overactive bladder) is when you feel a sudden, compelling urge to urinate, followed by uncontrolled leakage of urine. As soon as you feel the urge to urinate, you are already losing urine. Possible causes: a urinary tract infection, bladder overactivity, neurological disorders or dementia.

Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence occurs in a third of cases. You then lose urine when there is pressure on the bladder and when you suddenly feel the urge to urinate. With mixed incontinence, you have the symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence.

Overflow incontinence

When you lose urine uncontrollably with an overflowing bladder, you have overflow incontinence. Holding urine for too long can cause your bladder to become enlarged and become hypersensitive. As a result, your full bladder can no longer handle the pressure and ‘overflows’. Symptoms include dripping or dripping urine and frequent urges with only a small amount of urine coming out. Overflow incontinence usually occurs in older men with an enlarged prostate.

Faecal incontinence

With stool incontinence you have one or more of the following symptoms:

• You lose stools unintentionally, you cannot hold your stools, you feel no urgency.
• You feel itching, pain and irritation at/around your anus
• You can’t stop yourself from blowing wind
• You lose mucus from your anus

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Both urinary incontinence and stool incontinence can have different causes. In women, the most common cause is a malfunctioning closing mechanism of the bladder, sphincter or pelvic floor. In men, the most common cause is an enlarged prostate.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can arise from various causes. Examples are weight gain, diabetes, muscle weakness, urinary tract infections, bladder overactivity, a malfunctioning urethra, permanent blockage in the intestines, surgery, neurological disorders or dementia. Pregnancy, hormone changes (for example due to childbirth or menopause) and hysterectomy can also lead to urinary incontinence in women. An enlarged prostate often plays a role in men. Your age, smoking and the use of medicines may also play a role.

Causes of Faecal Incontinence

Faecal incontinence can have various causes. Possible causes are:

• Damage or slackening of the sphincter in the anus
• Damage to the nerves that control the sphincter and pelvic floor muscles (for example, due to MS or Spina Bifida)
• Prolapse of the rectum
• Chronic intestinal infections
• (Overflow)diarrhea

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