Who is more likely to develop urinary incontinence?

It is more common in women, and risk rises with childbirth or age. Men can also develop it from conditions like prostate disease.

Can urinary incontinence be treated?

Yes. Lifestyle changes, exercise therapy, medication, and surgery can all relieve symptoms.

What kind of exercise helps?

Pelvic floor strengthening (Kegel exercises) is most effective; done consistently, it relieves incontinence symptoms.

How should I manage daily life with urinary incontinence?

Keep regular voiding habits, cut caffeine and alcohol, and manage your weight.

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AI CURATION

Briefly describe your symptoms
to the smart Goldman AI.

e.g. I urinate frequently and always feel residual urine
e.g. I feel a burning pain when I urinate
e.g. Itchy, stinging blisters on my genitals

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is harder because it is beyond your control — see Goldman's carefully designed treatment strategy.

Urinary incontinence is called a 'social cancer'.
Stop hiding it and get it treated.

Director of Goldman Urology, urinary incontinence video

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Urinary incontinence is not life-threatening, but it is uncomfortable and holds you back.
Goldman gives you a clear answer to that worry with differentiated treatment.

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What is urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a condition in which urine leaks involuntarily. It is common in women, affecting 25% before menopause and 40% after menopause.
It causes hygiene problems and daily inconvenience and leads to social withdrawal, which is why it is called a ‘social cancer’.

Normal function vs. stress urinary incontinence, where urine leaks under increased abdominal pressure

NormalStress incontinencePressure risesUrineUrinePelvic musclesUrethraUrine leaks

NormalStress incontinencePressure risesUrineUrinePelvic
musclesUrethraUrine leaks

Urinary incontinence: how many people are affected?

Urinary incontinence is common but easily neglected. In 2022 statistics, over 80% of patients were women,
and stress and urge incontinence accounted for over 90% of cases.

Number of urinary incontinence patients in Korea

* Source: Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (2022)

Male

Female

13,992

110,347

2021

Total 124,339

13,992

112,283

2022

Total 126,275

13,897

112,919

2023

Total 126,816

90% or more

Stress · Urge Incontinence

Urinary incontinence:
accurate testing is the first step in treatment.

Through detailed tests such as a urodynamic study, we pinpoint the cause of urinary incontinence
and plan treatment suited to each patient, from surgery to conservative care.

Accurate functional diagnosis

Urodynamic study available
Precise diagnosis, accurate surgery

A Deep Understanding of Urologic Anatomy
Customized Integrated Treatment

Patient-Tailored, Step-by-Step Treatment

The causes of urinary incontinence: what is behind it?

Urinary incontinence can be caused by weakening of the pelvic floor muscles or bladder dysfunction, the structures that support the urethra and bladder.
Many factors are involved, including childbirth, menopause, aging, obesity, and prostate disease, and the treatment approach differs depending on the cause.

Degenerative Changes from Aging
With age, the muscles that support the bladder lose elasticity, which can lead to incontinence.Bladder contractility and capacity also decline, making it more likely to develop as you get older.
Physical Changes from Childbirth
Childbirth can damage pelvic muscles, connective tissue, and nerves, weakening bladder support and causing incontinence.
Menopause
Menopause, usually around age 45, lowers female hormone levels and makes the genitourinary tract more sensitive.An oversensitive bladder can then lead to incontinence.
Obesity
Rapid weight gain or abdominal obesity raises intra-abdominal pressure, irritating the bladder and straining the pelvic floor muscles, which can trigger incontinence symptoms.

Urinary incontinence: what types are there?

Incontinence takes several forms, including stress and urge incontinence, and each needs treatment matched to its cause.

Stress urinary incontinence

Accounting for 80–90% of all urinary incontinence, it causes urine to leak when abdominal pressure rises — during sneezing, coughing, or exercise.
Urge Incontinence

Urine leaks after a sudden, strong urge to urinate.It accounts for 20–30% of all urinary incontinence and is accompanied by overactive bladder symptoms such as frequent urination and nocturia.
Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Stress and urge incontinence symptoms appear together.About 30% of patients with stress incontinence also experience urge symptoms.
Reflex Urinary Incontinence

A spinal cord injury blocks nerve signals, causing the bladder to contract reflexively and release urine.
Overflow Urinary Incontinence

The bladder is full but cannot empty properly, so urine overflows.Diabetes, neurological disorders, and benign prostatic hyperplasia are common causes.
Transient Urinary Incontinence

It occurs mainly in older adults and is brought on by urinary tract infection, medication side effects, or delirium, but the symptoms resolve once the underlying cause is removed.

Diagnosing urinary incontinence:
what methods are used?

Treatment for urinary incontinence varies by cause, type, and each patient's condition.
Identifying the cause through accurate testing enables more effective treatment and a better quality of life.

Medical History Interview

A basic evaluation to identify the type and cause of incontinence.

It checks for urine leakage during coughing or exercise and for symptoms such as frequency and urgency, while also assessing urinary tract infection, bladder cancer, menopause, surgical history, and medication use.

Neurological Examination

Checks anal sphincter contraction and perineal sensation for nerve abnormalities, plus muscle control and nerve function during voiding.

It has limits as a stand-alone diagnosis.

Illustration of a stress test to provoke incontinence with increased abdominal pressure

Stress (Cough) Provocation Test

The bladder is filled with sterile saline and urine leakage is observed during coughing or straining.

It is a key test for diagnosing stress urinary incontinence.

Urinalysis and Urine Bacterial Culture

A quick basic test for urinary tract infection and inflammation, checking the urine for bacteria and inflammatory cells.

Screen showing urine flow rate and residual urine volume measurement results

Uroflowmetry and Post-Void Residual Measurement

A test that measures urine flow rate and post-void residual volume to predict treatment outcomes and assess the risk of voiding difficulty.

Voiding Diary

A log of voiding times, volumes, and frequency used to assess the patient's condition and guide treatment.

Cystoscopy

An optional test for urgency, frequency, or recurrent urinary tract infections, or to assess voiding difficulty after surgery.

1-Hour Pad Test

Measures urine leakage by pad weight; 2 g or more in 1 hour indicates urinary incontinence.

Urodynamic Study

Assesses the exact cause and bladder function; used for suspected neurogenic incontinence, recurrence after surgery, failed medication, or after cancer surgery.

Urinary incontinence treatment:
how does it proceed?

Urinary incontinence treatment is not the same for every patient.
Depending on the cause and type, various methods are used, including medical (drug) therapy, physical therapy, and surgery.

Non-surgical treatment Surgical treatment

Medication Therapy
Effective for urge, limited for stress, and often used for mixed incontinence.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises (Kegel Exercises)
Contracting the pelvic floor suppresses reflex detrusor contraction and prevents leakage, so strengthening these muscles helps you handle sudden urges.
Electromagnetic Field Therapy
A 20-minute non-surgical treatment done seated and fully clothed.It stimulates the pelvic floor muscles, improving incontinence, voiding difficulty, and pelvic pain without exercise.
Biofeedback
Pelvic floor exercise only works with exactly the right muscles, which is hard at first.Biofeedback uses visual and audio signals during contraction to guide correct exercise, 2–3 times a week for 6 weeks.

TOT Surgery

Transobturator tape

This surgical technique improves on the drawbacks of conventional TVT (Tension free vaginal tape) surgery, inserting the mesh without damaging the bladder
and while avoiding nerves and blood vessels.

: TVT Surgery

A procedure that slings mesh around the mid-urethra; side effects may occur as the mesh guide passes toward the abdomen

: TOT Surgery

Improves on TVT by inserting mesh without damaging the bladder, nerves, or blood vessels

Short Operating Time

A short operating time of around 15 minutes
minimizes patient discomfort.
local anesthesia

Local anesthesia means less physical
burden on the patient.
High safety

A highly safe procedure
with no nerve or blood vessel damage.

Urinary incontinence treatment:
Goldman takes a different approach.

Goldman Urology Clinic precisely analyzes the cause of urinary incontinence
and provides treatment tailored to each patient's condition, safe surgery, and thorough aftercare.

Systematic Testing for Precise Diagnosis

Urodynamic studies and other tests quantify bladder and urethral function to find the exact cause.

Treatment Designed for Each Type of Incontinence

We match treatment to the type of incontinence: stress, urge, or mixed.

TOT Sling Surgery with Reduced Side Effects

TOT sling surgery treats stress incontinence with less surgical burden and faster recovery.

Thorough Management Before and After Surgery

Cystoscopy, post-void residual testing, and more prevent complications and guide recovery.

A Treatment Goal That Changes the Patient's Life

Beyond symptom relief, Goldman's goal is to restore your daily life and confidence.

Have questions about urinary incontinence? Get answers now.

Goldman's know-how gives clear answers to patients' questions.

It is more common in women, and risk rises with childbirth or age.Men can also develop it from conditions like prostate disease.
Yes.Lifestyle changes, exercise therapy, medication, and surgery can all relieve symptoms.
Pelvic floor strengthening (Kegel exercises) is most effective; done consistently, it relieves incontinence symptoms.
Keep regular voiding habits, cut caffeine and alcohol, and manage your weight.