(800) 437-3677 TYPES OF INCONTINENCE
| Type | Cause | Symptom |
|---|---|---|
| Stress | Most often caused by weakened pelvic muscles and ligaments. It is more common in women. | Generally results in the expulsion of a few drops of urine when sneezing, exercising or laughing. |
| Urge (Overactive) |
Over-activity of the bladder wall muscle causes by infection or neurologic disorders. | Frequent, strong urges to urinate, often unable to delay urinate long enough to make it to the restroom. ("When you gotta go, you gotta go!") |
| Overflow | Flow of urine out of the bladder is constricted or blocked, if the bladder muscle has no strength, or if there are neurologic problems. | Prolonged voiding, poor or reduced urine stream, post-void dribbling, still sense of bladder fullness, and mimic symptoms of stress incontinence (leakage when sneezing, exercising, or laughing). |
| Functional | Inability to get to the restroom safely, due to limited mobility or cognitive problems or having less awareness for the need of urgency. | Varies symptoms. (may have functional bladder, but failed to reach the restroom in time) |
| Reflex | A problem in the central nervous system. Having disorders of stroke, Parkinson's disease, and/or brain tumors. Patients with spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis. | A loss of urine control without warning. A person cannot detect his or her need to use the restroom. |
| Mixed | A combination of two or more types of incontinences. | Combination symptoms of two or more types of incontinences can occur. |
Choosing the Right Incontinence Product
| Types of Product | Gender | Stress | Urge | Overflow | Functional | Reflex |
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 Bladder control pads |
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 Guards for men |
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 Belted shields |
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 Protective underwear |
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 Adult briefs |
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TYPES OF INCONTINENCE
Learn More About Incontinence
How to Manage Incontinence?
Common Causes of
Bladder Leakage
Foods That Affect Incontinence
Exercises for Women to
Limit Incontinence
Frequently Asked Questions About Incontinence Products
Maxi-Pad Instead of a
Bladder Pad?
Size Chart for Adult Briefs
Size Chart for Pullups
Should I Use Two Incontinence Products Together?
Learn More About Our Products
Bladder Control Pads / Absorbent Liners
Common Causes of
Bladder Leakage
Protective Underwear / Pullups