There are two main types of urinary incontinence. The first is invariably associated with childbirth or the ageing process. This incontinence is often called stress incontinence when the woman can leak with coughing, laughing and sneezing. As the condition progresses, just mere walking can cause leakage. Treatment usually involves conservative measures such as physiotherapy, and most surgical procedures have success rates of between 60-85%.
The second condition is called overactive bladder syndrome. Overactive bladder can affect younger women but rises in prevalence exponentially as one gets older. The classic symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) are urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence. Bladder training techniques are often helpful in combination with a class of drugs called anticholinergic medication. These are antispasmodic drugs used to control bladder function. If drug therapy fails, one can consider injections into the bladder with Botulinum toxin.