Urgency and Urge incontinence

You might have to rush to the toilet as soon as you feel the need to urinate. This sudden urge is called ‘urgency’.

People who have normal bladder function can hold on until they reach a toilet, but people with urgency may leak if they do not get to a toilet in time. This is called ‘urge incontinence’.

Most cases of urgency and urge incontinence are caused by an overactive bladder. However, for some people, the cause is never found.

You may feel the need to rush to the toilet if you have a urinary tract infection. People with diseases that affect the nerves that are linked to the bladder such as MS and Parkinson’s disease can be prone to urgency and urge incontinence.

‘Latch key’ urgency can affect people who already have poor bladder control. This term refers to the need to go to the toilet as soon as you get home and put the key in the door. Knowing that you will soon be able to go to the toilet may cause your bladder to contract so that you have to rush to get to the toilet.

Some people experience a similar urgency feeling when they hear running water. This can be quite common but when you have to rush to the toilet and sometimes do not make it in time, you need to investigate this problem.

If you are concerned about your urgency or if you are experiencing urge incontinence and regularly have accidents, you should visit your doctor or continence nurse. A continence nurse is a health care professional who specialises in bladder and bowel problems.

Once you have made an appointment, your doctor or nurse will assess you. They may ask you some of the following questions:

• How often do you go to the toilet?
  
• How often do you leak or have an accident?
  
• When do you leak or have accidents?
  
• What medication do you take?
  
• What do you normally eat or drink?
  
• Is it painful / uncomfortable when you go to the toilet?
  
• How many times do you get up at night?
  
• Do you ever wet the bed?

It would be a good idea to keep a record of your bladder activity for a few days before your appointment with your doctor or nurse. Keep a record for at least 3 days. For examples of bladder diaries, click here - bladder diaries.

Urgency and urge incontinence can cause a great deal of worry and stress and you may start to live your life around your problem, however there is help available.