Overview

Functional incontinence means that you can't get to or use a toilet in time to urinate. This usually happens because something gets in your way or you aren't able to walk there on your own.

Functional incontinence usually occurs because something blocks your way to the toilet. Or perhaps you can't walk there on your own. Maybe you have a hard time removing clothing before you urinate. There might be a problem with reasoning that keeps you from realizing that you need to urinate or from finding a toilet.

One way to treat functional incontinence is to urinate on a schedule. Using absorbent pads or underwear, an incontinence clamp or pressure cuff (men), or an urethral insert or external urethral barrier (women) may help. You can get to the toilet quicker by moving furniture or wearing clothes that are easier to remove.