What is a common characteristic of urge incontinence?

Urge incontinence is characterized by a strong, sudden need to urinate, which can lead to involuntary leakage before an individual is able to reach a bathroom. This is often due to overactive bladder contractions that occur inappropriately, leading to an urgent need to void. The hallmark of this condition is the urgency and the resultant loss of urine that happens when a person cannot reach the toilet in time.

Other options describe symptoms that are associated with different forms of incontinence. For instance, involuntary leakage during physical activity relates more to stress incontinence, which occurs when physical pressure on the bladder exceeds its capacity to retain urine. Dribbling at the end of urination can indicate issues with bladder emptying or obstruction and does not represent the urgency seen in urge incontinence. Lastly, consistent difficulty starting urination is generally associated with conditions affecting bladder outlet function or prostate issues, rather than the characteristic urgency of urge incontinence.