Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Urinary incontinence falls into two broad categories: stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Stress urinary incontinence occurs when urethral closure pressure cannot increase sufficiently to compensate for a sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure, as from a cough or Valsalva maneuver. Urge urinary incontinence occurs when an unintended bladder contraction creates an insuppressible urge to void, leading to urinary leakage. When women have signs and/or symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence, it is referred to as mixed urinary incontinence. Overactive bladder syndrome is defined by the Standardization Subcommittee of the International Continence Society (ICS) as urinary urgency, with or without urge incontinence and usually with frequency and nocturia. Nocturia, which is often associated with urinary frequency, is defined as a need to urinate that awakens the person during the night. This chapter discusses the epidemiology and physiology of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder syndrome in women, as well as diagnosis and treatment. Tables list foods and beverages that may cause urinary frequency and urgency; features of urge incontinence, stress incontinence, and