Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence or the loss of bladder control is involuntarily leaking urine. This may be an occasional leak when sneezing or coughing or a very strong and sudden urge which leads to an embarrassing “accident”. This occurs more commonly among elderly women.

The risk factors include aging, smoking, pregnancy, stress, and obesity. Some of the causes are weak or overactive bladder muscles, weak pelvic floor muscles, inflammation of the bladder lining, enlarged prostate, neurological conditions, urinary stones, tumor against the bladder, medications (diuretics and muscle relaxants), and alcohol. The treatments include pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, medications, medical devices, and surgery. Used in a broader sense, "incontinence" can also be used to mean a failure to control or contain one's behavior or actions, i.e. the term sexual incontinence can be as a synonym for promiscuity.