2025 ICD-10-CM code N39.41
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Diseases of the urinary system - Other specified urinary incontinence Chapter 14: Diseases of the genitourinary system Feed
Urge incontinence is a type of urinary incontinence characterized by a sudden, strong urge to urinate followed by involuntary loss of urine.
Medical necessity for treatment of urge incontinence is established when the condition significantly impacts the patient's quality of life, causing distress and social limitations.Documentation should clearly demonstrate the severity of symptoms and the need for intervention to alleviate the burden on the patient.
Urologists, nephrologists, and other healthcare professionals specializing in urinary tract disorders may be involved in the diagnosis and management of urge incontinence.Depending on the complexity and severity, primary care physicians may also play a significant role.
In simple words: Urge incontinence means you have a sudden, strong need to pee and then you leak urine.This happens because your bladder muscles squeeze unexpectedly.
Urge incontinence (N39.41) is a type of urinary incontinence defined by a sudden, compelling urge to urinate, immediately followed by the involuntary loss of urine. This condition is often linked to detrusor muscle overactivity, causing involuntary bladder contractions.The diagnosis is typically made through a combination of patient history, physical examination, and potentially urodynamic studies.Treatment options can include behavioral modifications (such as bladder training), medication (anticholinergics, beta-3 agonists), and in some cases, surgical interventions.
Example 1: A 65-year-old female patient presents with complaints of urinary urgency and frequency, with several episodes of involuntary urine leakage per day.She reports a sudden, strong urge to urinate, often unable to reach a toilet in time.Physical exam and urodynamic studies confirm detrusor overactivity, leading to a diagnosis of urge incontinence (N39.41)., A 72-year-old male patient with a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) experiences urinary urgency and incontinence.He reports a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, and occasional involuntary leakage, especially at night.Further investigation reveals detrusor overactivity contributing to urge incontinence (N39.41), necessitating treatment for both the BPH and incontinence., A 40-year-old female presents with symptoms consistent with urge incontinence, including urinary urgency and frequency, and leaking. She also reports pelvic pain. Following a thorough examination, the clinician diagnoses urge incontinence (N39.41) along with interstitial cystitis (N30.1).
Detailed patient history documenting symptoms (frequency, urgency, volume of leakage, timing, associated factors), physical examination findings, and results of any diagnostic tests (urinalysis, uroflowmetry, urodynamic studies).Documentation should support the diagnosis of urge incontinence and rule out other potential causes of urinary incontinence.
** This code should be used specifically for urge incontinence.If other types of incontinence are present, consider appropriate additional codes (e.g., mixed incontinence N39.46).Always ensure proper documentation to support the code selection.
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