Glossary of Terms

Common terms associated with urinary incontinence:

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): An enlarged prostate condition that occurs in men. The risk of enlarged prostate increases as a man ages. It is not a cancerous disease.
• Cystocele: This condition is when the bladder drops down into the vagina.
• Enuresis: The term used for bed wetting.
• Intrinsic Sphincteric Deficiency (ISD): A condition where the sphincter muscles surrounding the base of the bladder weaken.
• Pelvic Floor Muscles: A group of muscles that maintain urinary and fecal control (continence). The pelvic floor muscles form a sling or hammock at the lower part of the pelvis. These muscles provide support to the pelvic organs (bladder, rectum and uterus) to keep them in their proper position.
• Pessary: A plastic device that is placed into your vagina by your physician. It helps support the uterus, vagina, bladder or rectum. It is most commonly used for uterine prolapse.
• Prolapse: When an organ or tissue falls down out of its original place in the body. The organ can drop down into the vagina or rectum. For example, uterine prolapse is when the uterus drops down into the vagina due to weak muscles and supportive tissues. Urinary incontinence is common with this condition.
• Prostate: A gland partially made of smooth muscle that is part of the male reproductive system. It stores and secretes fluid that is part of semen. The muscular part of the gland also helps initiate ejaculation in males.
• Rectocele: This condition is when the wall of the rectum bulges into or compresses the vagina.
• Rectum: The lower part of the large intestine that ends at the anal opening.
• Sphincter: A circular muscle that blocks the flow of urine from the bladder. It can also relax to allow the passage of urine with input from our nerves. If the sphincter is weak or nerve damage occurs in this area, urinary incontinence is a common side effect.
• Ureter: The tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
• Urethra: The tube that connects the urinary bladder to the outside of our body. It carries the urine from our bladder when we are ready to urinate. The urethra also carries semen during male ejaculation.
• Urinary Incontinence: An involuntary loss of urine from the body.
• Urinate: To release urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. For normal urination to occur, the bladder, muscles and nerves all need to work together to release urine in a voluntary manner.
• Urine: A liquid waste product formed by the body by filtering water and waste products through the kidneys. It is primary made of water.