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What Is Overflow Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when a person involuntarily leaks urine. Millions of men and women experience it every year. It is more common in older adults. It can come in three different forms: stress, urge, and overflow incontinence. A doctor can determine if a person is experiencing overflow incontinence and offer treatment options.

  1. Overflow Incontinence

    • Overflow incontinence is most often found in men; it is rarely diagnosed in women. In this form of incontinence, a person's bladder fails to empty completely when he urinates. The urine that remains in the bladder causes his bladder to overfill when new urine is produced. This leads to urine spilling out of the bladder and leaking, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

    Symptoms

    • A person with overflow incontinence will experiences small spills of urine, which leads to dribbling bladder leaks that can be nearly constant. A person with overflow incontinence will feel frequent urges to urinate, even after he has just visited the restroom. When he does urinate, the urine stream could be weak, little more than a dribble of liquid, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Causes

    • Overflow incontinence can be caused by damage to the bladder, which prevents it from emptying fully. Weakened bladder muscles can be caused by nerve damage, which is sometimes caused by diabetes. If the urethra is blocked by a tumor or by bladder stones, it can result in overflow incontinence. If a man has an enlarged prostate, it can restrict his urethra. This leads to difficulty emptying the bladder and overflow incontinence.

    Treatment

    • Overflow incontinence can be treated by addressing the underlying issue that is triggering it. Weakened bladder muscles can be strengthened through bladder training and through nerve stimulation. Tumors or bladder stones can be surgically removed. If overflow incontinence is caused by an enlarged prostate, medication is available that can help. If medication is not enough to correct the problem, surgery is also an option.

    Considerations

    • While a person is undergoing treatment for overflow incontinence, there are options available to help him manage his bladder leakage. Absorbent pads can be worn under normal clothing to contain any urine leaks that might occur. A person can also insert a catheter into his urethra and use it to completely empty his bladder. Once this is done, he will have more control over bladder leaks.

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