Incontinence in the female patient.

Incontinence, the distressing accompaniment of old age and the frequent annoyance of young women, should be adequately diagnosed and treated. Although th physiology of bladder function is not completely understood, and urologists and gynecologists continue to change their opinions about just which bladder deformities or what changes in pressure profiles are important, enough is known to help the patient. The woman who is afraid to leave home and has sexual inhibitions and personal difficulties because of her "leaking bladder" can be helped to a fuller life. The family physician can distinguish between stress incontinence and detrusor instability. Adequate treatment of detrusor instability and proper referral of patients with stress incontinence are within the purview of the family physician. This paper describes diagnostic procedures easily performed in the office, preventive measures from childhood through the postmenopausal periods, and the options and effectiveness of treatment.