Mixed urinary incontinence is defined as what?

• A. Overflow symptoms.
• B. Only urge symptoms.
• C. A combination of symptoms of both urge and stress incontinence, with one component typically dominant guiding management.
• D. Only stress symptoms.

Answer: (C)

Mixed urinary incontinence means leakage is related to both an urgent urge to void and to activities that raise abdominal pressure, such as coughing or lifting, with one component usually more prominent guiding treatment. This dual presence reflects two underlying mechanisms—detrusor overactivity causing urge and pelvic floor or sphincter weakness causing stress leakage—coexisting in the same patient. Clinically, you focus on the dominant symptom to choose treatment, while addressing the other aspect as part of the overall plan. For example, the dominant urge component is treated with bladder training and medications that reduce detrusor activity, while the dominant stress component is addressed with pelvic floor exercises or other stress-management strategies. The other options don’t fit because overflow symptoms indicate a voiding failure mechanism, pure urge describes leakage with no stress component, and pure stress describes leakage with exertion without urgency.