Symptoms of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a symptom of other conditions. Any loss of voluntary bladder control can be considered incontinence.

Symptoms include:

Leaking triggered by laughing, sneezing, lifting heavy objects, or exercise
A strong urge to urinate followed by loss of urine
Inability to hold urine long enough to make it to a restroom
Difficulty initiating urination
Straining to empty the bladder
Decreased urinary stream or “dribbling”

References

Beers MH. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Co; 1999.

Kasper D, Harrison T. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Adrienne Carmack, MD
Review Date: 09/2012
Update Date: 00/91/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.