TREATMENT OF URINARY
INCONTINENCE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS. A+ GRADE
2025/2026.
Epidemiology of UI - ANS UI = involuntary loss of urine
1. 11 of 13mil US patients are women: biggest risk factor is age, >2x as many women affected,
50-70% don't seek treatment, under-reported by about 50%, a leading cause of admission to
nursing homes
2. report by age: 7% in women 20-39yrs, 17% in women 40-59yrs, 23% in women 60-79yrs, 32%
in women >80yrs
biggest risk factor for UI - ANS age - has a lot to do with muscle and ability to control
sphincter
categories of incontinence - ANS 1. stress incontinence (SUI) = involuntary loss of urine
associated with sneezing, coughing, laughing, lifting, or exercising
2. urge incontinence (UUI) = involuntary leakage accompanied by or immediately preceded by
urgency (overactive bladder)
3. mixed incontinence = both stress and urge factors
4. overflow incontinence = uncommon; overfilled, hypotonic bladder
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, 5. functional incontinence = occurs when patient cannot get to the toilet in a timely fashion
relative prevalence of stress, urge, and mixed UI symptoms in women - ANS stress (49%) >
mixed (29%) > urge (22%)
pathophysiology of SUI - ANS coordinated neuromuscular response called the "guarding
reflex" maintains urinary continence
1. increase in nerve activity → contraction of the urethral sphincter → decrease loss of urine
2. NE and 5-HT play a role in this process
3. pelvic floor muscles contract → support bladder → maintain continence
4. SUI may result from insufficient urethral closure and/or intrinsic sphincter deficiency
symptoms of SUI - ANS 1. leak urine during physical activity (coughing, sneezing, laughing,
lifting)
2. anxiety about wetting accidents
3. feeling of urgency or frequency is rare
4. lack of nocturia
5. patient can reach bathroom in time when needed
pathophysiology of UUI - ANS 1. detrusor muscle in bladder wall normally remains relaxed
until bladder is full; nerve signals tell patient it is time to urinate
2. nerve innervation to the detrusor muscle is cholinergic (primarily M3 receptors)
3. in UUI, involuntary bladder contractions occur as the bladder fills
[patient feels urge but muscle contracting so can't go in time]
symptoms of UUI - ANS 1. frequent urination (8+ times over a 24hr period)
2. nocturia (2 or more times a night)
3. feel overwhelming and uncontrollable urge to urinate (urge incontinence)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
INCONTINENCE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS. A+ GRADE
2025/2026.
Epidemiology of UI - ANS UI = involuntary loss of urine
1. 11 of 13mil US patients are women: biggest risk factor is age, >2x as many women affected,
50-70% don't seek treatment, under-reported by about 50%, a leading cause of admission to
nursing homes
2. report by age: 7% in women 20-39yrs, 17% in women 40-59yrs, 23% in women 60-79yrs, 32%
in women >80yrs
biggest risk factor for UI - ANS age - has a lot to do with muscle and ability to control
sphincter
categories of incontinence - ANS 1. stress incontinence (SUI) = involuntary loss of urine
associated with sneezing, coughing, laughing, lifting, or exercising
2. urge incontinence (UUI) = involuntary leakage accompanied by or immediately preceded by
urgency (overactive bladder)
3. mixed incontinence = both stress and urge factors
4. overflow incontinence = uncommon; overfilled, hypotonic bladder
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
, 5. functional incontinence = occurs when patient cannot get to the toilet in a timely fashion
relative prevalence of stress, urge, and mixed UI symptoms in women - ANS stress (49%) >
mixed (29%) > urge (22%)
pathophysiology of SUI - ANS coordinated neuromuscular response called the "guarding
reflex" maintains urinary continence
1. increase in nerve activity → contraction of the urethral sphincter → decrease loss of urine
2. NE and 5-HT play a role in this process
3. pelvic floor muscles contract → support bladder → maintain continence
4. SUI may result from insufficient urethral closure and/or intrinsic sphincter deficiency
symptoms of SUI - ANS 1. leak urine during physical activity (coughing, sneezing, laughing,
lifting)
2. anxiety about wetting accidents
3. feeling of urgency or frequency is rare
4. lack of nocturia
5. patient can reach bathroom in time when needed
pathophysiology of UUI - ANS 1. detrusor muscle in bladder wall normally remains relaxed
until bladder is full; nerve signals tell patient it is time to urinate
2. nerve innervation to the detrusor muscle is cholinergic (primarily M3 receptors)
3. in UUI, involuntary bladder contractions occur as the bladder fills
[patient feels urge but muscle contracting so can't go in time]
symptoms of UUI - ANS 1. frequent urination (8+ times over a 24hr period)
2. nocturia (2 or more times a night)
3. feel overwhelming and uncontrollable urge to urinate (urge incontinence)
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED
