What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. Though it is more likely to occur in individuals who are older, it is not an inevitable part of the aging process. Rather, urinary incontinence is a medical condition that can be treated. Urinary incontinence is twice as likely to occur in women than in men due to the structure of the female urinary tract, and because women experience pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause.

There are a variety of causes of urinary incontinence. It may result from having muscles that are too weak, and thus are unable to keep the bladder closed when a person sneezes or exerts energy. Urinary incontinence may also occur due to muscles that are overactive. Overactive bladder muscles cause a person to feel as if they need to urinate when in fact there is little urine in the bladder. Urinary incontinence can also be caused by prostate problems or nerve damage.

Treatment options are available to address this condition and avoid the embarrassment it can cause.