Final answer:
Urinary incontinence is a chronic problem of uncontrolled leakage of urine. Stress urinary incontinence occurs due to loss of support of the urethra, usually caused by stretching of pelvic floor muscles during childbirth. Urge urinary incontinence is caused by uncontrolled contractions of the detrusor muscle in the bladder wall.
Step-by-step explanation:
Urinary incontinence is a chronic problem of uncontrolled leakage of urine. It is very common, especially at older ages and especially in women. Sometimes urinary incontinence is a sign of another health problem, such as diabetes or obesity. Regardless of the underlying cause, the symptoms of urinary incontinence alone may have a large impact on the quality of life, frequently causing inconvenience, embarrassment, and distress.
Stress urinary incontinence is caused by loss of support of the urethra, usually due to stretching of pelvic floor muscles during childbirth. It is characterized by leakage of small amounts of urine with activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as coughing, sneezing, or lifting. Treatment of stress urinary incontinence may include Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles. More serious cases may call for surgery to improve support for the bladder. Urge urinary incontinence (commonly called "overactive bladder") is caused by uncontrolled contractions of the detrusor muscle in the wall of the bladder. This causes the bladder to empty unexpectedly. Urge incontinence is characterized by leakage of large amounts of urine in association with an insufficient warning to get to the bathroom in time. Treatment of urge incontinence may include taking medication to relax the detrusor muscle.
In a person with male anatomy, urinary incontinence is most commonly caused by an enlarged prostate gland or treatment for prostate cancer. In genetically female individuals, there are two common types of urinary incontinence with different causes: stress incontinence and urge incontinence.