Topic Overview
Urge incontinence is a need to urinate that is so strong that you
cannot reach the toilet in time. It can occur even when the bladder contains
only a small amount of urine.
Urge incontinence can be caused by bladder
contractions that are too strong to be stopped by the bladder outlet valve
(sphincter). This results in a near-emptying of the bladder.
Medicines and behavioral strategies, such as eliminating
caffeinated and carbonated drinks, are used to treat urge incontinence.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerAvery L. Seifert, MD - Urology