Urinary Urgency and Urge Incontinence

An issue with the bladder such as Urge incontinence and urgency can cause a great deal of worry and stress and you may start to live your life around your problem, however there is help available.

What’s the difference between Urge Incontinence and Urgency?

The sudden intense sensation of needing to go to the toilet and having to rush to get there is called ‘urgency ‘.

People who have normal bladder function can hold on until they reach the toilet, but people with urgency may leak if they do not get to a toilet in time. If this happens then it is called ‘urge incontinence’.

What are the Causes?

Most cases of urgency and urge incontinence are caused by anoveractive bladder. However, for some people, the cause is never found.

You may feel the need to rush to the toilet if you have aurinary tract infection. People with diseases that affect the nerves that are linked to the bladder such asMultiple SclerosisandParkinson’s diseasecan be prone to urgency and urge incontinence.

‘Latch key’ urgency can affect people who already have poor bladder control. This term refers to the need to go to the toilet as soon as you get home and put the key in the door. Knowing that you will soon be able to go to the toilet may cause your bladder to contract so that you have to rush to get to the toilet.

Some people experience a similar urgency feeling when they hear running water. This can be quite common but when you have to rush to the toilet and sometimes do not make it in time, you need to investigate this problem.

When to get help with urge incontinence and urgency

如果你担心你的问题，它开始影响你的日常生活，一定要预约看你的医生，失禁护士或专业理疗师。尿失禁护士和专业物理治疗师是专门处理膀胱和肠道问题的医疗专业人员。

Once you have made an appointment your healthcare professional will assess you. They may ask you some of the following questions:

• How often do you go to the toilet to pass urine?
• How often do you leak urine?
• When do you leak urine?
• What medication do you take?
• What do you normally eat or drink?
• Is it painful / uncomfortable when you pass urine?
• How many times do you get up at night?
• 你尿床过吗?

It would be a good idea to keep a record of your bladder activity for a few days before your appointment. Keep a record for at least 3 days. Please visit our section onBladder Diary/retrainingfor more information and a copy of a blank diary you can download and complete yourself. There are a variety of conservativetreatments还有可用的药物，如果这些都不起作用你可能会被推荐给外科医生。

Further Information

Further information and downloads can be found in thedownloads section.

Living with a bladder condition can affect you emotionally and socially; sometimes it can help to speak to others who understand your situation. TheBladder & Bowel Community Support Groupis available around the clock and monitored closely by admins to ensure a safe environment, to allow you to connect with those who share your condition. Start your own topic today or just follow one that interests you.