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What Is Mixed Incontinence?

Mixed incontinence (sometimes called mixed urinary incontinence) is when you frequently experience the symptoms of more than one type of bladder weakness. In most cases, it appears as a combination of:

• Stress incontinence: Leaks caused by sudden increased pressure on the bladder, such as laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
• Urge incontinence: Leaks triggered by a sudden, powerful urge to go to the toilet, often when you don’t have time to reach the toilet before release.

This overlap can be frustrating. Just when you think you’ve understood your triggers, another one appears. That’s why mixed incontinence can feel harder to pin down than stress or urge incontinence on their own.

The important thing to remember is that mixed urinary incontinence is fairly common, especially in women after childbirth or menopause. This doesn’t mean that it is a natural part of the process or of ageing, so if you notice things change, get yourself booked in with your GP.

With the right support, it can be managed just as effectively as any other form of bladder weakness. 

Symptoms Of Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence can manifest differently from person to person, but it often means you’re dealing with two different triggers for leaks. For example, you might:

• Frequently leak when you laugh, cough, or lift something heavy and rarely experience sudden urges that leave you rushing to the toilet.
• Feel like you constantly need to plan your day around bathroom breaks, yet still experience small, unpredictable leaks.
• Regularly wake up in the night desperate to use the toilet, whilst occasionally facing leaks during physical activity at other times in the day.

The challenge here is that the symptoms of mixed incontinence don’t always follow a pattern, and that can be one of the most frustrating parts. One day it’s the sudden urges that take over, the next it’s a surprise leak during exercise.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Mixed urinary incontinence is already effectively managed by many, and recognising these overlapping symptoms is the first step towards finding the best way to manage them.

Causes and Risk Factors of Mixed Incontinence

Mixed incontinence rarely appears overnight. You might experience stress incontinence for a while before facing the overwhelming nature of urge incontinence. 

Also, just because you experience one type of incontinence today, doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to develop another type later down the line.

For those that do develop mixed incontinence, it's usually as a result of a few different changes in the body happening at once. These changes create both the pressure leaks of stress incontinence and the sudden urges of urge incontinence.

Some of the most common risk factors include:

• Pregnancy and childbirth: stretching and weakening of the pelvic floor can lead to stress leaks, whilst changes in bladder control can trigger urgency.
• Menopause: falling oestrogen levels affect muscle tone and bladder sensitivity, making both types of leaks more likely.
• Age-related changes: bladder muscles naturally weaken over time, and for some, bladder signals can become less reliable as they age (however incontinence is not a normal part of ageing).
• Pelvic surgery: procedures such as a hysterectomy or prostate surgery can change the way the bladder and surrounding muscles operate day-to-day during recovery.
• Bladder or neurological conditions: overactive bladder, diabetes, or nerve damage can create urgency alongside other leaks.

Because more than one thing is at play, it’s important to speak with a GP if you notice overlapping symptoms. They can help confirm what’s going on and guide you toward the right mix of treatments.

Managing Mixed Incontinence Day-to-Day

Coping with more than one type of leak can feel daunting at first, but mixed incontinence is manageable with the right approach. 

If you’re experiencing both stress and urge incontinence, the key is to combine strategies that target both stress and urge symptoms, so you feel covered no matter what the day brings.

Practical strategies that can help include:

• Pelvic floor exercises: These exercises strengthen the muscles that support your bladder to reduce stress leaks over time.
• Bladder training: Training your bladder to gradually extend the time between toilet visits to lessen the severity of sudden urges.
• Identify triggers: Trying to cut back on caffeine, alcohol, or other diuretics can make a big difference. Track what you’re doing before sudden leaks happen to identify triggers.
• Plan ahead: Whether it’s wearing discreet protection during exercise or knowing toilet locations when out and about, a little preparation can reduce worry.
  
  

Products that make life easier:

Incontinence products such as pads and underwear are often the simplest way to manage mixed incontinence day-to-day. With such a huge range of products on the market, they’re designed to cope with both small stress leaks and heavier urge leaks, giving you the confidence to get on with your day without too many interruptions.

With a little trial and error, most people find a mix of techniques and products that works for them. This is why knowing your triggers and symptoms can be a big help.

The important thing is knowing you have options and that mixed incontinence doesn’t have to define how you live your life.

Managing Mixed Incontinence With Confidence

Mixed incontinence can obviously feel like double the challenge, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. Once you understand your triggers and find a combination of management strategies that work for you, it quickly becomes something you manage, not something that manages you.

Taking the time to find the right products can give you immediate peace of mind. Try exploring online for the most amount of choice.

Online supermarkets such as Vivactive help by keeping things simple and cutting down on unnecessary costs, providing the same great brands without the pricetags found in supermarkets or pharmacies.

At Vivactive, our goal is to help you feel confident, secure, and comfortable, without the cost. If you’re experiencing leaks, check out our range of pads, disposable and washable pants to find the perfect solution for you.