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Home › Articles › Living with Incontinence › Incontinence Quiz

Incontinence Quiz

Test Your Incontinence Knowledge

By Lyn Mettler


Whether you're an old pro at managing incontinence or you're new to the experience, you probably feel like you know way more than you ever needed to about a part of the body you probably never gave much thought to until now. While you may feel you're on information overload some days, it's important to learn as much as you can about the condition to help you find the best management techniques to suit your lifestyle and keep you on the go.

We've compiled this quiz to find out just how much you really know about bladder control. Don't worry if you don't get every question right – you're sure to learn some important information along the way.

1. Incontinence results when:
a) The amount of urine produced exceeds the bladder's capacity.
b) The pelvic floor muscle is weak or damaged.
c) The nerve passages along the pathway from the bladder to the brain are damaged.
d) All of the above

The correct answer is d. Incontinence can result when any part of the urinary system malfunctions.

2. Is incontinence:
a) A disease
b) A symptom
c) Imagined
d) A disorder

The correct answer is b. According to the National Association for Continence (NAFC), incontinence is a symptom, not a disease in itself. This is because many things can cause incontinence, ranging from pregnancy to surgery to aging.

3. Which of the following is not a type of urinary incontinence?
a) Mixed
b) Muscular
c) Stress
d) Urge

The correct answer is b. The most common types of incontinence include stress, urge and mixed. Stress incontinence results when the pelvic floor muscle is weak or damaged. Urge incontinence is caused when bladder contractions cannot be controlled, causing urine to leak. Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress and urge incontinence symptoms.

4. Urine flows through the body in which of the following orders?
a) Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
b) Urethra, kidneys, ureters, bladder
c) Kidneys, urethra, bladder, ureters

The correct answer is a. The kidneys produce urine, which flows through the ureters into the bladder. The bladder then holds the urine until it leaves the body via the urethra, a tube-like organ controlled by a muscle called the sphincter.

5. How many Americans currently experience urinary incontinence?
a) 10 million
b) 19 million
c) 25 million
d) 50 million

The correct answer is c. More than 25 million North American adults have some form of incontinence.

6. Which of the following increases your chances of having stress urinary incontinence?
a) Being female
b) Having a family member who had stress urinary incontinence
c) Previous pelvic surgery
d) Trauma during a vaginal birth
e) All of the above

The correct answer is e. According to the American Urogynecologic Society, gender, genetics, prior surgery and traumatic childbirth can all increase your chances of developing stress urinary incontinence.

7. How much fluid should you drink each day to stay healthy?
a) At least 40 ounces
b) At least 50 ounces
c) At least 60 ounces
d) At least 70 ounces

The correct answer is b. You should drink at least 50 ounces, or 6 1/2 cups, of water each day for optimal health. Drinking less can actually worsen incontinence or lead to serious illness. The types of beverages you choose to drink are important too: Avoid alcohol or caffeine, which can aggravate the bladder.

8. Which of the following is not a recognized treatment option for urinary incontinence?
a) Medication
b) Kegel exercises
c) Meditation
d) Surgery

The correct answer is c. Kegel exercises (exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor), medication and surgery are all common treatment options for incontinence. Keep in mind that treatments vary according to each individual's situation.

9. In order for Kegel exercises to work properly, they must be done:
a) At least 50 times every day
b) While standing
c) While sitting
d) Regularly

The correct answer is d. Kegels must be done regularly and indefinitely in order for you to see a decrease in urinary incontinence.

10. Incontinence more often affects:
a) Women
b) Men
c) It affects both men and women equally.

The correct answer is a. According to the American Urological Association Foundation, women are twice as likely as men to have this condition. Additionally, the NAFC says one in four women older than 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily.

Thanks for taking our incontinence knowledge test. There's a lot to know, but there are also many readily available sources at the library and on the Web to help you learn more. Depend.com has information and links to help you.