All the different types of urinary incontinence share a common symptom: urine leakage. However, there are urinary incontinence symptoms that are specific to each type.
- If you have stress incontinence, you will leak a small amount of urine when you laugh, strain, cough, sneeze, lift something, change position (e.g., stand from a seated position, turn over in bed), and/or perhaps when you have sex.
- In cases of urge incontinence, you will experience a desire to urinate that is so strong, you may not reach a toilet in time. However, you may not leak any urine even though you have a strong urge to urinate if your bladder is empty.
- Men with overactive bladder experience urinary urgency, frequent urination (the need to void 8 or more times during a 24-hour period), urinating in the middle of the night (2 or more times; nocturia), and urge incontinence.
- Men who have overflow incontinence can only release a small amount of urine even though they have an urge to urinate. Overflow incontinence is also characterized by uncontrollable dribbling.
These overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence symptoms can cause a significant amount of psychological stress and affect a man’s social, physical, occupational, and sexual activities.
See also
Vitamin A, Carotenoids Reduce Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
