Urinary Incontinence

What Causes: Urinary Incontinence

There are a number of different types of urinary incontinence, and different causes can contribute to each one. They are -

• Stress incontinence – this is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles, and/or a damaged urethral sphincter. Problems with these muscles can occur after childbirth, as a result of being obese or pregnant, because you have suffered damage to your bladder due to surgery, certain medications, neurological conditions, and as a result of disorders of certain connective tissue
• Urge incontinence – this is when your bladder’s detrusor muscles become overactive. This may happen because of constipation, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, UTIs, certain neurological conditions, medication, and if you don’t drink enough fluids
• Overflow incontinence – this happens when you have an obstruction in your bladder that means you’re not able to fully empty your bladder. This could be because of constipation, bladder stones, or an enlarged prostate gland
• Total incontinence – if you aren’t able to store any urine at all in your bladder, this could be a problem that you’ve dealt with since birth, as a result of an injury to your spinal cord, or because of a bladder fistula

Alongside these causes, there are other possible reasons as to why you might be experiencing urinary incontinence. They include -

• Genetics
• Age
• Lower urinary tract symptoms