Topic Overview

Urge incontinence is a need to urinate that is so strong that you cannot reach the toilet in time. It can occur even when the bladder contains only a small amount of urine.

Urge incontinence can be caused by bladder contractions that are too strong to be stopped by the bladder outlet valve (sphincter). This results in a near-emptying of the bladder.

Medicines and behavioral strategies, such as eliminating caffeinated and carbonated drinks, are used to treat urge incontinence.