What type of urinary incontinence occurs when a person is unable to reach the bathroom in time?

Urge incontinence occurs when an individual has a sudden and intense urge to urinate, which is often accompanied by an involuntary loss of urine before reaching the bathroom. This type of incontinence is commonly related to overactive bladder conditions, where the bladder muscles contract uncontrollably. As a result, the individual may find it difficult to control their bladder in time to reach the restroom, leading to accidental leakage.

This explanation highlights the core aspects of urge incontinence and its impact on a person’s ability to manage urinary urges, making it clear why this is the correct answer in the context of the question. Understanding urge incontinence is also crucial to differentiate it from other types of incontinence, such as stress incontinence, which relates to physical activities like coughing or sneezing, or overflow incontinence, which involves an inability to completely empty the bladder, leading to leakage.