Genuine stress incontinence: pathophysiology and rationale for its medical management.

Genuine stress incontinence is a condition in which increments of intra-abdominal pressure produce involuntary urine loss. The condition occurs as a result of urethral sphincteric failure in the absence of involuntary detrusor contractility. Several aspects of this dysfunction are amenable to nonsurgical treatment. These interventions are worth trying prior to proceeding for surgery.