Urge incontinence

Urge or urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine with a sudden, strong urge to urinate.

The bladder reacts extremely hypersensitively to a small amount of urine, so the need to go to the toilet is frequent and immediate. Various stimuli such as water runoff, the smell of certain substances, and even thoughts about going to the toilet can lead to a strong urge and urge to urinate.

Urge incontinence is more common in the elderly.

Urge incontinence is also called: detrusor instability, detrusor hyperreflexia, uninhibited bladder or overactive bladder. Patients with this type of incontinence have premature contractions of the detrusor muscles before the bladder is full, which creates a sense of urgency and frequency of urination, while the amount of urine is usually small to moderate. When the contractions of the detrusor become strong enough to overcome the sphincter ability of the urethra, there is a leakage of urine – incontinence.

There are two basic conditions that lead to detrusor hyperactivity:

1. A decrease in inhibition of the central nervous system occurs as a result of:
   • Trauma
   • Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease
   • Multiple sclerosis
   • Tumors
   • Aneurysm
2. Increased peripheral stimulation from the bladder area occurs as a result of:
   • Infections of the lower urinary tract,
   • Atrophic urethritis
   • Pressure of intestinal contents
   • Uterine prolapse