Female Urinary Incontinence is More Common Than You Might Think

Urinary incontinence is characterized by a loss of bladder control, allowing some urine to leak when you’re not ready to go to the bathroom. The thought of leaking urine involuntarily can be embarrassing, but you can find relief at Urology Specialist Group. Our expert team can find the underlying cause of your incontinence.

Causes of urinary incontinence

Most cases of urinary incontinence are from an underlying medical condition, such as:

• Menopause
• Constipation
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Weakened pelvic floor muscles
• Urinary tract infection
• Enlarged prostate

Although many people suffer from urinary incontinence, it affects twice as many women as men. Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are three causes unique to women.

Urinary incontinence in women

Between 25%-45% of all women experience urinary incontinence. And up to 39% of women between ages 20-39 experience a form of incontinence. Urinary incontinence is not something that occurs only with age.

Another reason it happens to women more is that women have a shorter urethra than men.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Roughly 4 in 10 women have urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken your bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. This happens from the extra pressure and weight of the baby. Labor can even damage the nerves that help with bladder control.

Menopause

Menopause occurs in most women around age 51. Menopause causes estrogen and other hormones to fluctuate. The drop in estrogen is linked to urinary incontinence, as it can weaken your urethra.

Types of urinary incontinence

There are four main types of urinary incontinence:

• Urge incontinence
• Overflow incontinence
• Stress incontinence
• Functional incontinence

Urge and stress incontinence are more common in women. 

Urge incontinence

Urge incontinence happens when you experience a sudden urge to urinate. It’s so overwhelming that it often usually causes urine leakage before you can make it to the bathroom. It can happen more than once a day and affects about 40% of women.

Getting sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate may impact your life. The fear of losing bladder control can discourage you from going out to see friends and family. 

Don’t hesitate to speak to our team at Urology Specialist Group if you experience urge incontinence. We can help you manage it so you can enjoy doing the things you love. 

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence. Weak pelvic floor muscles put extra stress and pressure on your bladder and urethra. That added pressure can cause urine to leak when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or lift objects. 

How to treat urinary incontinence

Our expert team of urologists at Urology Specialist Group goes through a detailed exam to determine what’s causing your urinary incontinence, and then develops an effective treatment plan. 

Call our offices in Hialeah or Miami Lakes, Florida, or use our booking tool online to start your treatment.