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Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common cause of referral to gynaecology clinics.
Statistics suggest that the prevalence of incontinence occurring twice or more
each month is about 8.5% in women aged 15-64 and about 11.6% in those over 65.
This is probably a gross underestimate. It is suggested that there are about 3
million incontinent women in the UK of which, less than 20% receive any investigation
other than an MSU, and a similarly small proportion receive help from health or
social services. UI is defined by the International Continence Society as
'the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine'. UI may occur as a result
of a number of abnormalities of function of the lower urinary tract or as a result
of other illnesses, which tend to cause leakage in different situations. - stress
UI is involuntary urine leakage on effort or exertion or on sneezing or coughing
- urge
UI is involuntary urine leakage accompanied or immediately preceded by urgency
(a sudden compelling desire to urinate that is difficult to defer)
- mixed
UI is involuntary urine leakage associated with both urgency and exertion, effort,
sneezing or coughing
Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is defined
as urgency that occurs with or without urge UI and usually with frequency and
nocturia. OAB that occurs with urge UI is known as 'OAB wet'. OAB that occurs
without urge UI is known as 'OAB dry'. - these combinations of symptoms
are suggestive of the urodynamic finding of detrusor overactivity, but can be
the result of other forms of urethrovesical dysfunction
Reference: - NICE
(October 2006). Urinary incontinence - The management of urinary incontinence
in women
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