Types of Urinary Incontinence

Your doctor will work with you to determine the type of incontinence, so that you can receive appropriate therapy.

Stress Incontinence: Loss of urine during exertion, such as coughing, laughing, or running.

Urge Incontinence: Loss of urine for no apparent reason after suddenly feeling the need or urge to urinate.

Mixed Incontinence: A combination of stress and urge incontinence.

About Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is the dropping or falling of the uterus, bladder, rectum, or vagina.

Uterine Prolapse: Pelvic support structures break down and the uterus drops into the vagina. Most often, other organs are also out of place.

Anterior wall prolapse, or cystocele: This is the most common type of pelvic floor defect. The bladder drops and rotates into the vaginal opening, and sometimes bulges out. Some cystoceles can cause urine leakage while large cystoceles can cause difficulty voiding.

Posterior wall prolapse, or rectocele: This condition can result in the rectum bulging into the vaginal opening. A large rectocele can make it difficult to move the bowels.
 
Pelvic prolapse images and captions
used by permission of Ethicon Women’s Health and Urology, a Johnson and Johnson Company.

Treatments for Incontinence & Prolapse:

• Overview
  
• Behavioral Treatment and Education
  
• Kegel Exercises
  
• Pessaries
  
• Medications
  
• Minimally-invasive surgery