Final answer:
A 68-year-old woman experiencing an intense urgency to urinate followed by leakage likely has urge incontinence, and the most appropriate intervention includes lifestyle modifications, bladder training, medications, and possibly other therapies, after consulting a healthcare professional.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient's description of an intense urgency followed by leakage of urine suggests that she may be experiencing urge incontinence, also known as an overactive bladder. This type of incontinence involves uncontrolled contractions of the detrusor muscle within the bladder wall, leading to a sudden and powerful need to urinate before involuntary leakage occurs.
The most appropriate intervention for urge incontinence includes lifestyle modifications, bladder training, and potentially medications to relax the detrusor muscle.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, the physician may also explore other treatment options such as pelvic floor muscle exercises or even neuromodulation therapies. It's important to consult a healthcare professional who can tailor the intervention based on a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's specific condition.
Urinary incontinence significantly affects quality of life and can lead to distress, so timely and effective treatment is crucial for individuals experiencing this chronic problem. Understandably, it is a complex issue requiring careful diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to management and care.