Incontinence is the term given to the accidental passing of urine. Although embarrassing, it's a very common condition that is estimated to affect three million people in Great Britain

Whatever age or gender, anybody can experience incontinence, although it's more common in people that are older. The problem affects many more ladies than men, and it affects one in five ladies that are aged over 40.

Sometimes incontinence in women can be the result of weak pelvic floor muscles. The weakness in these muscles can make urine leak out of the bladder.

Incontinence can show itself in a variety of ways. Symptoms can vary from urine leakage during coughing, laughing, or lifting, to little amounts of urine leaking or dribbling from the body often & unexpectedly.

If you've got any of these symptoms, go and visit your doctor for advice and diagnosis. Do not be nervous about the intimate nature of your problem - the doctor will regularly see similar cases.

As you might already know, there are a number of different types of incontinence. We've listed some of the most common strains of the condition below.

Stress incontinence is the most common form of incontinence and its particularly common in women that have had children. Sufferers of stress incontinence find that urine leaks when they sneeze, or do any other sort of activity that places sudden pressure on the bladder.

There is also functional Incontinence, which is when you feel the need to urinate but you can't due to a physical or communication problem, which prevents you from getting to the bathroom fast enough.

It goes without saying that there's a wide range of different incontinence treatments available. One of them is bladder training. This treatment requires you to empty your bladder at set times, before gradually increasing the amount of time between intervals. However, your Dr may prefer to prescribe medicines to treat your problem. Hormone replacement therapy can also be helpful if you have undergone the menopause and have an overactive bladder.

If you have stress incontinence and other incontinence treatments have not been adequate, your Dr may recommend a surgical procedure that will give your bladder neck & urethra more support. There's a wide range of available surgical procedures, which means that you'll have to visit your Dr for additional information and to find out the best option for you.

In addition to these treatments, there's also a vast range of products available that will help you to keep your symptoms under control. These include washable and disposable pads & knickers to keep you dry throughout the night & day, as well as a vast range of essential bed protection products & toiletries that will make you feel cleaner.