Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, a common condition that affects both men and women and that can substantially diminish quality of life, dignity, and independence. It is not a disease in itself but a symptom arising from disturbances in the storage or control of urine, and it is classified by m…
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, a common condition that affects both men and women and that can substantially diminish quality of life, dignity, and independence. It is not a disease in itself but a symptom arising from disturbances in the storage or control of urine, and it is classified by mechanism. Stress incontinence reflects leakage during increases in abdominal pressure, such as coughing or exertion, due to inadequate sphincter or pelvic support; urge incontinence results from involuntary bladder contractions producing sudden urinary urgency; mixed incontinence combines both; and overflow incontinence follows incomplete bladder emptying. Contributing factors differ by sex and age and include pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, pelvic surgery, prostatic enlargement and its treatment in men, neurological conditions, obesity, and reduced mobility. Because many of these risk factors are modifiable, a preventive and proactive approach is central to management: pelvic floor muscle training, weight management, bladder retraining, treatment of contributing conditions, and lifestyle measures can prevent onset or reduce severity. Evaluation combines clinical history, examination, and where indicated specialized testing to identify the underlying type. Treatment is matched to mechanism and severity, ranging from behavioral and physical therapies and medication to surgical intervention. Because incontinence is frequently underreported owing to stigma, recognition, early assessment, and preventive care are essential to reducing its physical, psychological, and social burden.
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The 8 articles above have been cited 13 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Urinary Incontinence, linking to each citing work.