Mixed Incontinence Causes And Treatments
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Mixed Incontinence
Mixed incontinence is very common and occurs when symptoms of both stress and urgency types of incontinence are present. Often, symptoms of one type of incontinence may be more severe than the other.
For example, you may have a weak pelvic floor due to childbirth, creating stress urinary incontinence. Sometimes that causes leakage when one laughs or sneezes. When this incontinence is combined with an Overactive Bladder, the best treatment usually addresses the more serious condition. In this case, the weak pelvic floor would be a great place to start treatment.
You might also have mixed incontinence if there is urine leakage:
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After an urge to urinate
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When you experience a sudden urge to urinate
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While you sleep
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After drinking a small amount of water
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Touching water or hearing it run
Causes
As you might expect, mixed incontinence also shares the causes of both Stress Urinary Incontinence and Urgency Urinary Incontinence.
Stress Urinary Incontinence often results when childbirth, pregnancy, sneezing, coughing, or other factors have compromised the muscles that support and control the bladder. This, in turn, causes leakage.
Involuntary actions of the bladder muscles creates Urgency Urinary Incontinence. Damage to nerves of the bladder, the nervous system, or muscles themselves are usually the key causes. This damage may be caused by serious health issues including diabetes, MS, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, thyroid problems, and other surgery-related injuries.
Treatment Options
You can find more information on causes and treatments for mixed incontinence on the following pages:
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Urgency Urinary Incontinence, also known as Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Your physician will be better able to work with you on the appropriate treatment path based on your diagnosis. To help get a better understanding of what is at the root of your specific incontinence, your doctor may have you keep a diary for a day or more as a record of when you urinate, intentionally or on accident. Your doctor may ask you to record the specific time as well as the amount of urine to provide additional data.
Related Articles
Is Bladder Leakage a Normal Part of Aging?
There is a quiet, widespread belief among women that at a certain age, after children, after menopause, and after “a lot of living,” bladder leaks just happen. You carry a pad. You know which restrooms are the cleanest. You skip the trampoline park with the grandkids. You don’t say anything to your doctor because, honestly, what would they even say? This is just…aging.
Using appropriate absorbent products and a gentle skin-care routine may help support skin integrity.
The medical community is clear: urinary incontinence is common, but it is not a normal or inevitable part of aging. The Mayo Clinic Health System states it directly that “although urine incontinence is common, it’s not normal.” The condition has causes, those causes have treatments, and those treatments, for many women, work remarkably well.
Bladder Health and Longevity: What Your Symptoms Are Trying to Tell You
In this episode of Life Without Leaks, we sit down with Dr. Mia Duncan, a dual board-certified urologist and urogynecologist, to explore the connection between bladder health and longevity.
Dr. Duncan explains why incontinence is often just the “tip of the iceberg,” and how early bladder symptoms can signal broader health issues. From root-cause diagnosis and bladder diaries to sleep disruption, UTIs, and prevention strategies, this conversation offers practical insights to help listeners take control of their health, now and for the long term.
To learn more about Dr. Duncan and Columbus Urogynecology, visit here.
Beyond the Diagnosis: The Emotional Reality of Incontinence and Caregiving
In this insightful episode of Life Without Leaks, we sit down with veteran nurse and caregiver Ruth Naismith to explore the often-overlooked emotional side of incontinence. Drawing from over 35 years of clinical experience – and a deeply personal caregiving journey – Ruth shares candid insights into the stress, stigma and life-changing impact incontinence can have on both patients and those who care for them.
Is Bladder Leakage a Normal Part of Aging?
There is a quiet, widespread belief among women that at a certain age, after children, after menopause, and after “a lot of living,” bladder leaks just happen. You carry a pad. You know which restrooms are the cleanest. You skip the trampoline park with the grandkids. You don’t say anything to your doctor because, honestly, what would they even say? This is just…aging.
Using appropriate absorbent products and a gentle skin-care routine may help support skin integrity.
The medical community is clear: urinary incontinence is common, but it is not a normal or inevitable part of aging. The Mayo Clinic Health System states it directly that “although urine incontinence is common, it’s not normal.” The condition has causes, those causes have treatments, and those treatments, for many women, work remarkably well.
