INCONTINENCE
Bladder incontinence
Bladder incontinence, also known as urinary incontinence, is the accidental leakage of urine. It is a common condition that can affect people of all ages and may occur occasionally or more often.
Bladder symptoms can be caused by several different conditions, including:
- Overactive bladder (OAB) – a sudden urge to urinate, frequent trips to the bathroom and sometimes urge leakage
- Urinary incontinence – accidental leakage of urine
- Urinary retention – difficulty emptying the bladder completely
How does the bladder work?
The bladder is like a reservoir that gets filled with urine produced by the kidneys. When the bladder becomes full, a signal is sent to the brain, and we feel the urge to urinate.
There are receptors in the bladder wall that send signals to the brain when action is needed. The brain then sends a message to the bladder muscle, instructing it to either expand (to store urine) or contract (to empty the urine).
When this communication between the bladder, nerves and brain isn't working properly, bladder symptoms such as urgency, leakage or difficulty emptying the bladder can occur.1
What is Overactive Bladder (OAB)?
Overactive Bladder (OAB) is a condition where the bladder muscle contracts when it shouldn’t. This creates a sudden, difficult to control, urge to urinate.
Symptoms of Overactive Bladder (OAB)?
Overactive bladder is defined by the presence of urinary urgency, usually associated with one or more of the following symptoms:
Urgency
You may have a sudden or irresistible urge to urinate, associated with an inability to hold urine or regulate it.
Urgency incontinence
You feel an urgent need to urinate and you experience leakage episodes or difficulty retaining before reaching the toilet.
Frequency
You experience the need to urinate so frequently that it becomes a major burden on your life (generally 8 or more times a day).
Nocturia
You get up more than once a night to urinate.
What is urinary retention?
Urinary retention is a condition where the bladder doesn’t empty completely, or is unable to empty at all. It can make it feel difficult to pass urine and may leave you feeling like your bladder is still full after going to the bathroom. In some cases, urinary retention can lead to overflow incontinence, where urine leaks because the bladder has become too full.
Symptoms of urinary retention2
Symptoms can include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- A weak or slow urine stream
- Feeling like the bladder hasn’t emptied completely after urinating
- Needing to urinate again shortly after using the toilet
Although its prevalence increases with age4, urinary incontinence is not confined to the elderly. It affects both men and women. Urinary incontinence can put patients in distress, and considerably alter their quality of life5.
Diagnosis
- Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and how they affect your daily life.
- Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms. Incontinence may be treatable, you don’t have to face it alone.
- Explore the following sections to find out more about overactive bladder and existing solutions.
References:
1. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Wagg A, Wein A, editors. Incontinence. 6th International Consultation on Incontinence. International Continence Society; 2017.
2. European Association of Urology (EAU). EAU Guidelines on Non-neurogenic Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Arnhem, The Netherlands: EAU Guidelines Office; 2025.
3. Continence Health Australia. (n.d.). Bladder Health. Retrieved from https://www.continence.org.au/continence-health/bladder
4. Milsom I et al. “How widespread are the symptoms of an overactive bladder and how are they managed? “ A population-based prevalence study. BJU Int. 2 001 Jun; 87(9):760-6.
5. Kinsey, D., Pretorius, S., Glover, L. & Alexander, T. The psychological impact of overactive bladder: a systematic review. J. Health Psychol. 21, 69–81 (2016).