Bladder Incontinence Causes & Symptoms

Bladder (urinary) incontinence refers to the accidental loss of urine. It is estimated that more than 50% of women experience urinary incontinence. There are four major types of urinary incontinence:

  • Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) – this refers to the unintentional loss of urine during exertional activities such as coughing, laughing, jumping, running, etc
  • Urge Incontinence – women who suffer from urge incontinence find that they have a sudden and intense urge to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. They may find that they can’t get to the bathroom quick enough or wake at night with an urgent need to void
  • Mixed Incontinence – this refers to women who have symptoms of both urge and stress incontinence. It is quite common to have mixed incontinence.
  • Overflow Incontinence – this is related to a bladder that doesn’t empty completely and occasionally gets so full that urine is lost involuntarily

Stress Urinary Incontinence can be further classified into two categories:

  • Urethral Hypermobility
    This occurs when the pelvic structures (muscles, connective tissue including collagen) loose their ability to support the urethra. Exertional activities (running, coughing, etc) can cause the urethra to drop and urine to leak out
  • Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency
    This occurs when the urethra is not able to close tight enough to keep urine in the bladder during exertional activities

Urinary Incontinence can have a major impact on a woman’s health and quality of life. These effects include:

  • Decreased physical activity
  • Depression, anxiety, loss of self-esteem
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Avoiding of social activities
  • Embarrassment from urine odor and leaks
  • Restriction of fluid intake

The symptoms of Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) may include leaking urine when you:

  • Cough, sneeze or laugh
  • Walk, exercise or lift
  • Engage in intercourse
  • Get up from a seated or lying position

You may be suffering from Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) if:

  • You wear pads to absorb urine
  • You avoid or reduce certain activities (like working out in the gym or playing with your children) to prevent “accidents”
  • You go to the bathroom frequently to keep your bladder empty to avoid unwanted urine loss
  • You plan your activities and trips around the availability of restrooms

Sometimes women are told that unwanted urine loss is a natural part of aging. Although it is common, SUI shouldn’t be regarded as normal. SUI can be caused by:

  • Pregnancy and childbirth
  • Chronic heavy lifting and straining
  • Menopause
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

There are solutions for urinary incontinence. One of the safest and least invasive methods is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy. If you would like to book an appointment with Merle Morton of the Canadian Continence Clinic at the Allan Centre please call us at 403-271-2550.

Very professional. The staff was fantastic! They made me feel very comfortable.
Alison Lee
Alison Lee
17:27 21 Aug 18
Very impressed by the professionalism and friendliness of the staff and very happy with my results.
H L
H L
02:18 01 Mar 18
I can’t say enough about Dr Allan; he is attentive, knowledgeable, and comes across as very caring. I also feel he takes his time answering my questions and concerns in a thorough manner.I have consulted Dr Allan over the years and I have complete trust in his judgement, knowledge and skill as a gynaecologist.I would highly recommend Dr Allan
Silvia Roball
Silvia Roball
00:42 01 Mar 18
My meeting with Dr. Allan was as expected. His longstanding reputation as a courteous, knowledgeable physician made me feel comfortable prior to receiving treatment. Upon my arrival, his staff were very personable and ensured privacy throughout the process and procedure. Overall, after experiencing huge success, I would highly recommend this clinic and procedure for those with stress urinary incontinence concerns.
C P
C P
04:17 23 Feb 18
I came to the Allan Centre after having had a variety of symptoms for years. Being post menopausal and having dealt with many doctors over the years, my expectations were not too high.I was pleasantly surprised to find a doctor, Dr. Allan, who genuinely listened and cared. I felt as though he actually heard my concerns.The girls at his office are friendly and professional, making the the overall experience as comfortable as a gynecological visit can be.I would highly recommend this centre to any woman looking for solutions!
Elaine Skiba
Elaine Skiba
02:45 23 Feb 18
I can't say enough good about the staff in this clinic. They made the process simple and Dr. Allan was incredibly knowledgable and kind. He keeps current on all technology and resources related to women health. Plus, the clinic feels more like a spa than a Dr.s office!
Jane Taylor
Jane Taylor
20:27 22 Feb 18
This clinic is professionally Managed with Great Staff, Dr. Allan is a leader in this industry.
Mike Chartrand
Mike Chartrand
20:10 22 Feb 18

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Break Free From Bladder Leaks

Stress urinary incontinence is a condition where even simple things like coughing and sneezing result in urine loss. Find out if you are a candidate for a simple, safe urinary incontinence treatment.