Pharmacologic approach to urinary incontinence and voiding disorders

Abstract

The main components of the lower urinary tract, i.e. the urinary bladder, urethra, and striated urethral sphincter, constitute a functional unit, which is controlled by a complex interplay between the central and peripheral nervous systems and local regulatory factors [1-3]. Malfunction at various levels may result in bladder control disorders, which roughly can be classified as disturbances of filling/storage or disturbances of emptying [4]. Failure to store urine may lead to various forms of incontinence (mainly urge and stress incontinence), and failure to empty can lead to urinary retention, which may result in overflow incontinence. © 2006 Springer-Verlag London Limited.