Stress urinary incontinence in palliative care

Stress urinary incontinence is the uncontrolled loss of urine secondary to weakness of the pelvic floor or urethral sphincter muscle. It can occur with activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, walking or other physical activity. Usually only small volumes of urine are lost.

In patients with palliative care needs, stress incontinence is generally managed using the approach outlined in General management of urinary incontinence in palliative care.

For postmenopausal women with stress urinary incontinence, also consider using intravaginal estrogen therapy—see the Sexual and Reproductive Health guidelines for dosage.