[Modern approaches to urinary incontinence in women]

Joint embryonic development from the front part of the urogenital sinus caused anatomic, topographic and to some degree functional interdependence of the urogenital system. This is the reason they have the same supporting system that if weak or impaired causes changes in both systems. Concretely, descensus uteri accompanied with descensus vaginae causes lowering of the base of the bladder, its neck and urethra. Due to such topographic change, residual volumes of urine remain in lowered base of the bladder and because of disturbed respective angles between the bladder and urethra, responsible for the function of urination, there is incontinence during every physical activity. Hippocrates mentioned that phenomenon, but the scientific identification of etiology and therapy of this disease dates from the very beginning of this century. The diagnostics was the past medical history and genital examination. In 1940 scientific interpretation begun in the field of uro-gynecology, it made progress during the World War II in Sweden and USA and after the war, somewhere earlier and somewhere later in other parts of the world. In our country the rudiment was noted in 1935 in Zagreb where it had developed after the war. There are different types of urinary incontinence, absolute and relative, all of them can be easily differentiated today. Since incontinence during physical activity (relative, orthostatic, stress, static) is most frequently found and that its consequences are most difficult, the emphasis is given to that type of urinary incontinence. The sophisticated clinical tests, roentgenoscopic and ultrasound examinations, urodynamics, electromyography, neurologic tests, vaginotonography, studies of urine flow make possible to obtain precise differential diagnosis of all types of urinary incontinence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)