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Incontinence 101
Terms You Need to Know
By Lyn Mettler
Kegels – Exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. Developed by Dr. Arnold Kegel, they have been shown to improve mild to moderate urge and stress incontinence.
Kidneys – Two bean-shaped organs that remove waste from the blood and send it to the bladder in the form of urine.
Mixed Incontinence – Incontinence that results when symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence are present.
Nocturnal Enuresis – The medical term for bedwetting, which is the involuntary release of urine at night.
Overflow Incontinence – A type of incontinence that occurs due to weak bladder muscles or to blockage, causing the bladder to become full with no urge to use the bathroom.
Pessary – A flexible, plastic device placed in the vagina to support the bladder, urethra and vagina to prevent urine leakage.
Prostate – A male gland about the size and shape of a walnut that surrounds the urethra and is located just below the bladder. If the prostate must be partially or totally removed because of illness, some degree of incontinence often results.
Sphincter Muscle – Any circular muscle in the body. A sphincter muscle helps keep urine from leaking around the opening of the bladder by closing tightly like a rubber band.
Stress Incontinence – A type of incontinence that occurs when pelvic muscles have been damaged or weakened, causing the bladder to leak during any activity that puts pressure on the bladder, such as exercise, coughing, sneezing or laughing.
Timed Voiding – A method of managing incontinence that establishes a schedule for urinating determined by individual habits, ot how long one can wait before having to use the bathroom.
