Do you sometimes get the sudden urge to pee but can’t hold it in? Or perhaps you have the urge to pee, but little urine comes out? You could be dealing with urge .
Urge incontinence means experiencing a constant or urgent need to urinate, resulting in being unable to control your bladder.
We spoke to Professor John. S. Young, Professor of Translational Healthcare and an expert in urology to learn more about the causes of and what you can do to manage it.
According to Professor Young, it’s normal to have a strong desire to pass urine when our bladder is full, however the experience of urge is different. It comes without warning, can’t be ignored and it often leads to urine leakage (incontinence).
In some cases, is due to a condition called ‘overactive bladder’. This condition is defined by a combination of symptoms, including:
Increased frequency of voiding during the day and night
Urinary urgency (which can occur with or without incontinence – in the absence of an infection or a metabolic condition, such as diabetes).
Research indicates that the underlying cause is a change in how our body detects bladder fullness. In urge incontinence, this is heightened, meaning that we sense our bladder is full, when it actually contains very little urine.
Feeling the sudden urge to pee can be an alarming experience for anyone. Sometimes, this urgent need to urinate does not give you enough time to find a toilet, leading to involuntary leakage, which can be a particularly distressing experience if you are out and about. However, there are certain triggers of urge incontinence that you may be able to manage.
Firstly, you need to consider the amount of fluids you’re drinking on a daily basis.
Drinking too much liquid will leave you producing large amounts of urine (polyuria), and experiencing a frequent urge to go to the toilet.
A low fluid intake can also trigger feelings of urgency though. Avoiding drinking fluids will lead to concentrated urine which can build up in your bladder causing irritation, and consequently make you a frequent visitor to the toilet. Dehydration is also a risk factor for constipation which could well lead to a urinary infection.
The government recommends that you drink six to eight cups of fluids every day which can include water, lower-fat milks as well as lower-sugar drinks.*
This does vary from person to person though – the number can depend on what you eat (as foods contains water), if you exercise, or if there’s hot weather (as you sweat a lot more and will require more drink). You should always be having a look at your urine – ideally, it should be pale yellow, and be aware that the darker it is, the more concentrated it will be.
It may be that you need to up your water intake, but there are other drinks which should be avoided as much as possible – alcohol, energy drinks, caffeine and even tea can worsen urge incontinence. Therefore, it would be a good idea to limit these drinks as much as possible from your diet.
Of course, there are other triggers. These can include conditions which affect your urethra such as a urinary tract infection (UTI). In addition to this, constipation can cause urge as an inability to empty the bowel properly puts pressure on your bladder, while some medications can have a side effect which triggers involuntary leakage.
Bladder stones can cause an obstruction leading to as can an enlarged prostate for men. There are causes unique to women as well – thinning of the lining of the urethra (which can be a symptom of menopause)can trigger burning and irritation, while gynaecological conditions such as prolapse or an ovarian tumour can also lead to urge incontinence.
As you’ll see, there are lots of potential causes of urge .
As with any bladder related problem, we always recommend going to visit a doctor so they can check if your urge incontinence is a sign of something more serious and recommend a treatment plan.
The doctor will ask some questions about your , such as the timing and situations in which it occurs. They may ask you to complete a bladder diary, which records the volumes and timings of fluids that you consume.
The doctor will want to rule out several potential causes for your symptoms, so will likely carry out a series of tests.
Whatever the underlying cause, treatment is available. It can take some time to get the right diagnosis and the right treatment, so we’d encourage you to work with the healthcare practitioners so you can find an effective treatment for you.
According to NHS guidance there are several non-surgical methods you can use to manage urge incontinence, which include:
Lifestyle changes (losing weight and reducing alcohol consumption in particular)
Using pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles and improve bladder control
Bladder training
If you’re struggling to manage sudden urges to pee, you may benefit from using TENA incontinence products. We have a range of incontinence pads, pants and washable reusable underwear designed for both men and women that can help you lock in leaks and keep living confidently while you regain control.
We understand that it can sometimes feel like urge incontinence is unbeatable, but TENA products can help you to manage your symptoms effectively. You can learn even more about urge incontinence on the following pages.
More about urge incontinence on TENA Women
More about urge incontinence on TENA Men
