Urinary incontinence meaning in adults: tips and advice

Becoming incontinent as an adult can be distressing and disorientating, especially if you don’t know much about it. Read on to find out what is meant by the term ‘incontinence’, as well as advice for managing the different types of urinary .

Incontinence meaning

The NHS defines urinary incontinence as the unintentional passing of urine. It’s a common condition that affects millions of people in the UK alone. There are several different types of urinary including: 

Stress urinary incontinence
Urge urinary incontinence, including
Mixed urinary incontinence
Overflow urinary incontinence
Neurological bladder disorder
Functional urinary incontinence

For more information on the types of incontinence read on below.

What is incontinence?

Trying to understand the meaning of  can be confusing. There are different types of incontinence with similar sounding symptoms, as well as some difficult terminology that can be hard to understand at first.

This can lead to negative emotions in those living with incontinence. If you’re struggling, then it can be helpful to try talking about incontinence and seeking help from a friend, family member, or medical professional who can provide you with tips, advice, and coping strategies.

If you suspect you may be living with incontinence or bladder issues in general, we recommend consulting a doctor. They can make an in-depth diagnosis by learning more about your symptoms and recommending treatment to improve your condition. 

Below, you’ll find clear descriptions of the different types of incontinence, symptoms and causes. When you know which type of incontinence you have, you will have a better understanding of what it means and how to manage it.

Types of incontinence

Stress urinary

Stress urinary incontinence causes you to leak urine when exerting yourself - for example, when coughing sneezing or laughing. Among women, stress urinary incontinence is the most common type, however it is less common in men.

Urge urinary incontinence

As its name suggests, urge urinary incontinence describes incontinence problems connected with a sudden urge to urinate. The amount of urine leaked varies from small dribbles to a complete emptying of the bladder. Urge urinary incontinence has different causes. Because of the wide variation in potential causes, a proper diagnosis from a healthcare professional is recommended to offer advice on how to treat this condition.

Mixed urinary incontinence

Mixed urinary incontinence is a combination of both stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence. In other words, it means incontinence can occur together with urgency and when exerting yourself.

Overflow urinary incontinence

This type of incontinence occurs when the bladder cannot empty completely. The urine that is left behind leaks out unexpectedly. The most common cause for overflow urinary incontinence is an obstruction of the urethra - due to an enlarged for example. A bladder muscle that cannot contract to empty can also be the source of the problem, something that can be related to nerve damage related to diabetes, for example.

Neurological Bladder Disorder

This describes damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nerves leading to incontinence or bladder or urination problems. Neurological bladder disorders can affect patients who suffer damages caused by trauma, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

Post-micturition dribble is the involuntary loss of urine shortly after a toilet visit. The person affected has often left the bathroom when this happens. It occurs due to urine remaining in the urethra. The problem is more common among men and can sometimes be avoided by pressing forward on the perineum to evacuate the remaining urine. It can also affect women who have poor muscle support for the urethra.

Functional incontinence

This means that you cannot reach the toilet in time due to some sort of physical impairment related to age, disability or living environment. Functional incontinence may occur because of difficulty removing clothing or being unable to move from a wheelchair to a toilet quickly enough. Other causes include impaired vision, lowered cognitive function or even physical environmental barriers such as the bathroom being too far away, a badly lit route to the bathroom or a light switch that is not easy to find or reach. In all cases, this type of incontinence is not due to a disease or condition affecting the bladder or another part of the urinary tract.

If urinary incontinence or bladder weakness is having a negative impact on your quality of life, we recommend you consult a healthcare professional.

How TENA can help with incontinence

Understanding the meaning of and what incontinence care means is a process that can take time and a reevaluation of how you live. TENA is here to support you in your journey with a range of real-life stories from men and women living with incontinence and sharing how the meaning of incontinence has shifted over time for them.

We also stock a range of expertly designed incontinence products including pads, underwear, and bedsheets that make living with incontinence stress-free and simple. Browse our full range of products here or visit our product selector if you are unsure what best suits your needs.

<< Back to articles