Stress incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine. In most cases, stress incontinence starts gradually over time and increases, often to the point of causing women to stop doing many of their normal activities. Stress incontinence is more common in women who are obese. It is a bladder storage problem in which the strength of the muscles that help control urination is reduced. The sphincter is not able to prevent urine flow when there is increased pressure from the abdomen. Stress incontinence occurs because of dysfunction in the mechanisms that normally control release of urine from your bladder. Some people have both stress incontinence and urge incontinence. The weakness may be caused by prior injury to the urethral area, neurological injury, some medications, or after surgery of the prostate or pelvic area. It can worsen during the week before the menstrual period. At that time, lowered estrogen levels may lead to lower muscular pressure around the urethra, increasing chances of leakage.

The incidence of stress incontinence increases following menopause, similarly because of lowered estrogen levels. There are different causes of incontinence, and each cause has different treatments. Treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and how much they interfere with the person’s everyday life. Constipation can make urinary incontinence worse, so dietary or medical treatments to help keep regular bowel habits are recommended. Stress and urge incontinence often occur together in women. Combinations of incontinence - and this combination in particular - are sometimes referred to as “mixed incontinence.” Weight loss has been shown to help decrease symptoms in those who are overweight. Surgical treatment is only recommended after the exact cause of the urinary incontinence has been determined.

Causes of Stress and Incontinence

The common causes and risk factor’s of Stress and Incontinence:

• Weakened pelvic floor muscles.
• Smoking.
• Excess consumption of caffeine or alcohol.
• Chronic coughing.
• Obesity.
• Urinary tract infection.

Symptoms of Stress and Incontinence

Some sign and symptom related to Stress and Incontinence are as follows:

• Sneezing.
• Lift something heavy.
• Laugh.
• Coughing.

Treatment of Stress and Incontinence

• Medications can reduce many types of leakage. Five main drugs are used - oxybutynin, flavoxate and tolterodine and the newer drugs, trospium chloride and propiverine.
• Biofeedback and electrical stimulation may be helpful for those who have trouble doing pelvic muscle training exercises. These two methods help a patient identify the correct muscle group to work.
• Estrogen therapy can be used to improve urinary frequency, urgency and burning in postmenopausal women, and the tone and blood supply of the urethral sphincter muscles.
• Various surgical operations may be used to treat stress incontinence. Surgery is often successful.