Stress incontinence is probably the type of incontinence most people think they have, and it is the most common type. Stress Incontinence occurs when weak pelvic muscles let urine escape before the person is ready to let it go. This is what is going on when you leak when sneezing or laughing, or when the bouncing associated with exercise causes a few drops to escape. The amount of urine released can be just a little or it can be pretty severe, if you know what we mean.

There are ways to manage your stress incontinence. You might have heard of Kegel exercises, which help strengthen the muscles that hold the pee in. Read our blog, Incontinence: Stay Strong, Stay Positive… Stay Dry, for other ways to DIY. If DIY isn’t your thing, or isn’t working, see your healthcare professionals. They may have additional suggestions for how to keep yourself dry and protected.

Overactive Bladder happens when your bladder muscles are too active. It may be because your brain tells your bladder to empty even when it isn’t full and you aren’t ready for it. Or it may be because your muscles contract to allow urine to pass before your bladder is full, causing an urgent need to urinate. 

A sudden, urgent need to urinate is the main symptom of overactive bladder. Another way to judge if this might be what you have is by how many times a day you need to run to bathroom. If it’s a lot and happens all day and all night, you may have overactive bladder.
Overactive bladder is more likely in men with prostate problems and in women after menopause. It can be caused by age or even by what you eat. Some people may have both stress incontinence and overactive bladder at the same time.

Overflow Incontinence is more common in men with prostrate problems. It happens when the body makes more urine than the bladder can hold, or the bladder is full and cannot fully empty thereby causing it to leak urine. Sometimes there is something blocking the flow, or the bladder muscle may not contract as they should. If you are experiencing the sensation commonly known as “dribbling,” then overflow incontinence may be to blame.

Functional Incontinence happens when there is a reason outside of your urinary system for the leak to happen. Maybe you have arthritis and can’t get the button on your jeans open quickly enough. Or maybe you have a habit of waiting a little too long to get yourself to the bathroom. If you suspect you have functional incontinence, take steps to lessen the triggers that make it happen. If arthritis is causing you to slow down, for example, pants with an elastic waistband might be your friend in this situation.