Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What condition is characterized by urinary leakage during sneezing, laughing, or straining?

1. Urge incontinence

2. Overflow incontinence

3. Stress incontinence

4. Functional incontinence

The correct answer is: Stress incontinence

The condition characterized by urinary leakage during sneezing, laughing, or straining is stress incontinence. This type of incontinence occurs when pressure is exerted on the bladder, such as during physical activities or even routine actions like coughing or laughing. The involuntary leakage happens because the pelvic floor muscles and the urethral sphincter are unable to maintain pressure against the increased abdominal pressure, leading to unintentional loss of urine. In stress incontinence, the primary issue is a lack of support for the bladder and urethra. This can be due to various factors, including childbirth, obesity, menopause, or age-related changes in pelvic floor muscle tone. It is distinct from other types of incontinence where the triggers and underlying mechanisms differ. For example, urge incontinence is associated with a sudden, strong urge to urinate and a potential loss of control, whereas overflow incontinence is characterized by an overfilled bladder causing leakage despite the absence of urge. Functional incontinence occurs when a person is unable to reach the bathroom in time due to physical or cognitive limitations, rather than from an issue with the urinary system itself. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why stress incontinence is the correct answer in this scenario.