Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine (peeing). It's a common problem that affects millions of people worldwide.
Types of urinary incontinence
There are many types of urinary incontinence, including:
- stress incontinence - urine leaks out when physical pressure is placed on your bladder (for example, when you cough or laugh)
- urge incontinence - urine leaks out when you feel a sudden, intense urge to pee, or soon afterwards
- overflow incontinence - you're unable to fully empty your bladder, causing urine to spill out
- continuous incontinence - your bladder cannot store any urine at all, causing you to leak all the time
It's also possible to have a mix of stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
Symptoms of urinary incontinence
When to seek medical advice
Non-urgent advice: Talk to your GP if:
- you have any type of urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a common problem. Try not to feel embarrassed when you talk about your symptoms. This can be the first step towards finding a way to manage the problem.
Urinary incontinence can usually be diagnosed after a consultation with your GP.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
