Urinary incontinence
Incontinence is leakage of urine from the bladder. It may be just a few drops or a dribble, or may be a stream.
How common is urinary incontinence?
People often keep the problem to themselves, so incontinence is much more common than most people realize. A few years ago the broadcaster Claire Rayner spoke on TV about incontinence; afterwards, the programme received more than 12,000 letters asking for more information. In fact, there are probably about 3 million people in Britain with this problem. In 1995, the Royal College of Physicians estimated that the following numbers of women were affected:
- 5–7% of women aged 15–44 years
- 8–15% of women aged 45–64 years
- about 15% of women aged 65 years or over.
The true numbers are probably much higher. For example, in 1999, a survey in Sweden found that 1 in 8 women under the age of 30 has urinary incontinence. And when a family doctor in the UK sent a questionnaire to 1000 women in his practice aged 44–65 years, he found that 22% had moderate urinary incontinence and 9% had a severe problem. A huge study in the USA (the Nurses Health study) found that 34% of women aged 50–70 years leaked urine at least once a month (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002;100:719–23).
Incontinence is not a personal failure, nor is it something that women should expect; it can often be cured. Sadly, most women simply put up with it and do not get the help they need. A survey in the USA found that 6 out of 10 women with urinary incontinence had never talked to their doctor about it (Journal of Women's Health 2003;12:687–98). Another survey showed that over 1.1 million women are using sanitary towels or panty liners just to cope with leakage of urine. A quarter of women with incontinence wait at least 5 years before going to their doctor.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Friday, February 26th 2010
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Comments on this article
Posted by Anonymous on 04/12/2009 at 02:04:00 pm
i have to rinse after passing urine as if i dont i get extreme discomfort but not sore.i have recurinr vaginal discomfort as well and when really bad icannot shut legs or sit comfotably.Any help please
Posted by Paul on 11/10/2009 at 10:50:00 pm
Yet another article that ignores male incontinence.
Posted by Elizabeth S. on 28/08/2009 at 06:33:00 pm
Sometimes when my body goes through some sort of spasm, like if I sneeze too hard or if I am hit with something, my sphincters seem to be forced open momentarily and I end up wetting my underwear. This used to be easy to conceal, but recently a huge, heavy gym mat fell on top of me in Gym class and it happened then too and I was really lucky that my shorts were black, but what if it happens again? I can't tell my mom about this, I'd die of embarrassment. Will it go away?
Posted by Anonymous on 28/07/2009 at 11:53:00 am
I have a red/ itchy penis, I can't stop weeing and my wee is clear?what could this be
Posted by simone on 02/04/2009 at 10:56:00 am
I used to get cystitis when i used to be in school and not had it in years. I woke up a week ago with it and still have it, I went to my doctors on monday and he tested my urine and said it was fine! So why have I still got it? Please help
Posted by Seaside on 29/12/2008 at 10:19:00 am
I am about to give up and just try to live with urinary incontinence. I suddenly developed this problem after having abdominal surgery to open a blocked abdominal aorta. It has been two years now and I have been under the care of a urologist for the past year. I have had every test, scan, etc. known to man. Nothing. None of the prescription medications have been effective. Now my urogogist wants me to see a Dr. in another town about the possibility of having electrical stimulation of the nerves that control the bladder. Has anyone tried this?? Did it work??
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Fascinating facts
Of every 10 women, 4 have suffered from incontinence at some time in their adult life
Incontinence costs the UK National Health Service about £242 million/year
In the USA, 20 million people have incontinence of urine. The annual cost is about $12.4 billion for women and $3.8 billion for men
In the USA, at least $4.5 billion is spent on incontinence pads alone
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