Urge leakage

What’s it all about?

Urge incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of urine through the urethra in response to an urgent, uncontrollable urge, when the bladder is not full. Leakage occurs at rest, without exertion, and at night.

The tension sensors located in the bladder muscle (the detrusor), which inform the brain about how full the bladder is, are out of whack: they send an irrepressible urge to urinate, even though the bladder is not so full that it needs to be emptied urgently.

We’re talking about the urge to urinate sometimes every 20 minutes during the day, and up to 4 or 5 times a night!

Urge leakage accounts for 10% of urinary incontinence cases.

But they’re not inevitable, and certainly not a sign of a small bladder.

Favouring factors

Stress
The cold
Water contact
Flowing water
Theine
Caffeine
Soft drinks and energy drinks
White wine and Champagne
Doormat or key-in-the-door syndrome (the feeling when approaching your home that you’ll never make it to the toilet because the urge is so strong)
Certain medications: diuretics, alpha-blockers, antihistamines, psychotropic drugs…

Solutions

This is a very common problem, as it is often misdiagnosed. Many sufferers think their bladder is too small, and don’t realize that it’s actually a tension sensor problem that can be solved.

It doesn’t have to be this way… there are solutions!

First of all, diagnosis by a professional specialized in pelvic health is a must. It helps to identify inappropriate micturition habits and make you aware of them.

There are tools you can use to regain a fulfilling quality of life, without the handicap of having to go to the toilet. The right care plan, the right lifestyle rules and a voiding calendar to keep you on track… you’re all set to regain the freedom to go for a stress-free walk!

It's up to you!