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Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of bladder or bowel control. Stress incontinence specifically occurs when physical activity or exertion, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising, puts pressure on the bladder, leading to leakage of urine. This form of incontinence is common, particularly among women, due to factors like pregnancy, childbirth, and hormonal changes that can weaken pelvic floor muscles.
Understanding the other terms is also important. Intermittent incontinence implies episodes of leakage that come and go, constant incontinence suggests a continuous loss of control, and sporadic can mean irregular or infrequent occurrences. However, none of these terms specifically describe a recognized category of incontinence in the way that stress incontinence does. Stress incontinence is a well-defined medical condition that highlights the physical factors leading to loss of control, making it the correct answer in this context.