Which type of urinary incontinence is most associated with leakage during activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as coughing or lifting?

• A. Stress urinary incontinence
• B. Overflow incontinence
• C. Urge urinary incontinence
• D. Functional incontinence

Answer: (A)

Leakage with activities that raise abdominal pressure is stress urinary incontinence. It happens when the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter can’t maintain a tight seal as pressure inside the abdomen increases from actions like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting. The weakened support allows the urethra to open and urine to escape even though the bladder itself isn’t overfilled or irritated. This pattern is common after childbirth when pelvic floor muscles are stretched or damaged, and it tends to occur with physical effort rather than with a sudden urge to void. This differs from overflow incontinence, which is due to a bladder that can’t empty properly and leaks steadily, or from urge incontinence, which is driven by a sudden, strong urge to void from detrusor overactivity. Functional incontinence, meanwhile, results from a person’s inability to reach the toilet in time due to physical or cognitive limitations, not from a bladder or sphincter problem.