URINARY INCONTINENCE IN WOMEN: DEFINITION, ETIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS

Abstract

Urinary incontinence is a health problem that affects many women around the world. Recent studies show that, despite being related to old age, the loss of urinary continence can also occur in women of childbearing age who practice physical exercises. The present study is a narrative review of the literature that sought articles from the main databases aiming to define the types of urinary incontinence, highlighting the main risk factors and etiology associated with the female gender. It can be said that urinary incontinence affects many women and has classifications. There are three main types: urgency, stress, and overflow. However, some patients may have symptoms of many different types (mixed) and others may have functional symptoms, i.e. patients with an inability to move around properly, for example, may have this condition functionally and not necessarily pathologically. Its etiology is mainly related to pelvic floor disorders, bladder hyperdistension and effort maneuvers. Risk factors include: obesity, menopause, types of pregnancies, hypoestrogenism, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.