Urinary incontinence is the unwanted leakage of urine. Many individuals who have this problem will refer to it as a “loss of bladder control” or a having a “bladder accident.”
Incontinence Center at SeekWellness
Welcome to our urinary incontinence center where you can learn about the types, causes and symptoms of urinary incontinence and about ways to treat and manage your situation.
We describe urinary incontinence products, pants, pads and other incontinence supplies for men and women so you can feel more knowledgable before you purchase from us or elsewhere.
You might also want to walk through our Underwear Buying Guide if you need help with your decision.
- Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise?
- Do you leak urine on the way to the bathroom?
- Do you have intense and sudden bladder urges you cannot control?
- Do you find yourself going to the bathroom often, more than 8 times in a day?
- Do you wake up more than two times at night to go to the bathroom?
- Do you need to know the locations of bathrooms when you travel or go shopping?
- Are you afraid that you will leak urine during sex?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then you have a problem with your bladder called urinary incontinence.
Urinary Incontinence (UI) is the unwanted leakage or loss of urine when you don't want to; a very common problem in the United States.
Many have the related condition of “overactive bladder or OAB which is when you have urgency, a sudden need to urinate right away and frequency, going to the bathroom more than 8 times a day. It is estimated to afflict more than 33 million Americans. More than two thirds of the persons with these conditions are women. The total annual cost of providing care for persons with urinary incontinence is estimated to be $28 billion.
The inability to control urine is one of the most unpleasant and distressing problems from which a person can suffer, often causing isolation, depression and physiological problems. It can also cause medical problems like skin breakdown and UTIs. In addition to the patient, UI with OAB are burdens for family caregivers and the community, and the major reason aging parents are put into nursing homes.
Celebrate Urology Nurses and Associates Week
To all urology nurses and associates:
Thank you for maintaining excellence in urologic care, educating patients, and promoting the specialty of urology. Your care, kindness, and dedication mean so much to so many people. During Urology Nurses and Associates Week and always, thank you for choosing urologic health care!
November 1-7, 2011 Urology Nurses Week Poster
Nurses and other Medical Professionals
ContinenceNurse.net is a website specifically for continence nurses and other pelvic health professionals. Much of the content is provided by Diane Newman, RNC, MSN, CRNP, FAAN and is designed to help busy pelvic health professionals solve everyday problems. There are sections about long term care, male and female pelvic health issues as well as continuing education programs, downloadable worksheets, and such community forums as Practice Pearls where nurses can describe difficult cases and ask other nurses for help. Registration is required for access to most of the website. Please visit.
Nurses, avoid unnecessary catheterizations and help reduce UTIs with bladder ultrasound. For a free infection prevention kit, click here.
Posted January 2002
Last updated October 2011
