Urinary incontinence is the unwanted leakage of urine. It may occur with coughing, sneezing, or laughing (stress incontinence) or when you don’t make it to the bathroom fast enough (urge incontinence).
Stress incontinence is common in women after having children. Labor and vaginal birth can weaken the pelvic floor and damage nerves. Some women experience bladder control problems after they stop having periods, possibly due to the loss of the female hormone estrogen.
Other causes of urinary incontinence in women include:
Your doctor will conduct a physical exam to look for signs of health problems that can cause urinary incontinence. Evaluation and diagnosis may include:
There are surgical and non-surgical treatments for urinary incontinence in women, including:
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