Understanding the Main Causes of Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the loss of control over your bladder. This can lead to urine slipping out unexpectedly and is something that should be treated. There are different causes of urinary incontinence and it’s not a normal part of aging and should be dealt with by you and your doctor.
Understanding the Causes of Urinary Incontinence
It’s important to understand what can cause urinary incontinence and if it may affect you. Incontinence can happen when the sphincter muscles aren’t as strong and don’t tighten enough to close the urethra and may cause a strong urge to urinate that you may not be able to control. Urinary incontinence can occur in both men and women, however, it’s twice as likely to affect women, especially after giving birth. It’s also more common in women over 65, usually because of hormonal changes due to menopause.
Some common causes of urinary incontinence include:
- Obesity - Being overweight makes it more difficult to control the muscles due to the pressure the extra weight puts on the bladder. This can weaken the bladder, which then will not be able to hold as much urine.
- Nerve damage - When the nerves are damaged, they may send signals to the bladder at the wrong time, or sometimes not even at all. Things like childbirth, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis can cause nerve damage to happen in the bladder, urethra, or pelvic floor muscles.
- Surgery - Certain surgeries that involve a woman’s reproductive organs can impact and damage the surrounding pelvic floor muscles, causing urinary incontinence.
- Certain medications - If you’re taking diuretics, also known as water pills, urinary incontinence can be a side effect and usually goes away when you stop taking the medication.