A patient reports involuntary urine loss with sneezing, indicating a type of incontinence. This is most consistent with which description?

A patient reports involuntary urine loss with sneezing, indicating a type of incontinence. This is most consistent with which description?

• A. Overflow that develops from incomplete voiding
• B. Mixed urge and stress due to irritation
• C. Stress due to decreased bladder outlet resistance
• D. Urge with increased bladder outlet resistance

Answer: (C)

Leakage with actions that raise intra-abdominal pressure points to stress incontinence. When you sneeze, abdominal pressure spikes. If the bladder outlet resistance is reduced—often from pelvic floor weakness or urethral sphincter dysfunction—the bladder can’t stay closed, and urine leaks. This description matches stress incontinence caused by decreased bladder outlet resistance. This pattern isn’t typical of overflow incontinence (leakage from incomplete voiding due to underactive detrusor or outlet obstruction) or urge incontinence (leakage with a strong, sudden urge). Mixed incontinence would show features of both.

Leakage with actions that raise intra-abdominal pressure points to stress incontinence. When you sneeze, abdominal pressure spikes. If the bladder outlet resistance is reduced—often from pelvic floor weakness or urethral sphincter dysfunction—the bladder can’t stay closed, and urine leaks. This description matches stress incontinence caused by decreased bladder outlet resistance.

This pattern isn’t typical of overflow incontinence (leakage from incomplete voiding due to underactive detrusor or outlet obstruction) or urge incontinence (leakage with a strong, sudden urge). Mixed incontinence would show features of both.