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Common Causes and Types of
Urinary Incontinence in Women

Everything you need to know about why urinary incontinence
affects women of all ages

    3. The information provided on this website is for general educational purposes only. Please note that All About Women focuses exclusively on gynecological care and no longer offers obstetric or prenatal services.

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  3. Common Causes and Types of Urinary Incontinence in Women

Urinary incontinence is a common medical condition that affects many women at various stages in their lives. It’s also a subject of embarrassment for patients, even though there’s no reason to feel shame.

At All About Women, we believe this shouldn’t be a taboo topic to discuss with healthcare professionals or loved ones, especially since it can be easily treated in many cases with experienced gynecological care.

What is urinary incontinence?

When most people talk about urinary incontinence, they are generally referring to bladder control, which is a biological process involving the use of certain muscles. Various factors can affect the normal interaction of sphincter muscles as they interact with the urethra. Evaluating optimal urinary function and treating related issues falls within the realm of urology and gynecology.

Common myths about urinary incontinence

Before getting into the reasons why women encounter this condition, we should clear the air with regard to certain misconceptions.

First of all, loss of bladder control is not something that only affects women; men can have it too, but it usually surfaces later in life. If anything, quite a few women are able to enjoy optimal bladder function in their golden years. It’s quite normal for women to go through episodes of incontinence during certain physiological stages such as pregnancy and childbirth, hormonal changes, weight fluctuation and stress.

Types of incontinence among women

The type of urine leakage that women may experience can be described as follows:

  • Overflow incontinence. Dribbling and the inability to completely empty the bladder are the hallmarks of overflow incontinence. Women sometimes experience this issue as part of a urinary tract infection. When no infection is present, there is likely to be another condition related to the bladder, urethra or nervous system. Overflow incontinence can happen occasionally or frequently. Total incontinence, in which your bladder leaks happen constantly without any identifiable outside cause, is often the most distressing for women.

  • Stress incontinence. When the bladder experiences physical stress or exertion, some leakage may occur. Examples of external pressure on the bladder include exercising, sneezing, laughing and coughing. Those most often affected by stress incontinence are women who are pregnant, have gone through childbirth, or are experiencing menopause. Pressure on the bladder from a growing fetus or anatomical changes that occur because of childbirth or menopause can bring on this condition.
  • Urge incontinence. If you have a strong need to urinate suddenly, you may be experiencing urge incontinence. This is one of the most common types of incontinence, and it can be related to urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases. When incontinence occurs because your bladder seems suddenly full and begins to empty itself before you can make it to a bathroom, it may indicate an underlying issue with your urinary tract, bladder or bowels. Some diabetic patients are known to suffer from urge incontinence, but there may also be issues related to neurological disorders. Overactive bladder falls into this category as well, meaning there is no infection or disorder. Your bladder simply has a tendency to spasm.

What causes urinary incontinence in women?

In and of itself, loss of bladder control is not a disease; rather, it is often a symptom or a condition resulting from other health issues.

Diet and medications

Drinking copious amounts of water will greatly fill the bladder, but other substances such as liquor and coffee have a greater biochemistry effect, thus metabolizing into diuretics. Citrus fruits, hot peppers and other foods that contain high levels of vitamin C can also increase the urge to evacuate the bladder, even before it’s filled to capacity. A few medications may also provoke incontinence as a side effect, such as high blood pressure pills and muscle relaxants.

Physiological changes in women

With aging, the muscle tissue that lines the bladder loses fiber quality and strength, thus diminishing bladder capacity. The bladder is more likely to contract with greater frequency after the age of 60.

With regard to pregnancy, there are hormonal changes that can increase urinary frequency. Moreover, there is also the weight of the baby, which places greater pressure on the bladder. In natural childbirth, the passage of the baby will stress not only the bladder but also the nerve endings that stimulate urinary function.

During menopause, many women may go through a sharp decrease in estrogen, a hormone that contributes to the overall health of bladder muscle tissue. Women who undergo hysterectomy procedures may experience incontinence because of the surgical damage suffered by the muscle tissue in the pelvic floor.

In general, surgical procedures in the female reproductive system may stress internal muscle tissues, thus inhibiting urinary function and causing incontinence. This can also occur because of localized anesthesia applications.

Constipation

Whenever stool gets compacted and hardens in the rectum, the nerves that normally stimulate the bladder will come into action, thus sending mixed signals to the bladder and potentially resulting in urge incontinence.

Urinary tract infections

Infections caused by E-coli, the mycoplasma bacterium and chlamydia can result in an irritated bladder, thus leading to incontinence. Bacterial cystitis is also caused by infections, and it commonly involves urge incontinence that results in patients passing small amounts of cloudy urine. Repeated urinary tract infections will prolong incontinence episodes, so it’s important to report any signs of a UTI to your doctor.

Neurological conditions

It is important to keep in mind that bladder muscles are activated by nerve signals. Patients who live with conditions such as Parkinson's disease or sclerosis are more likely to deal with the loss of bladder control.

Blockage and obstruction

Bladder cancer is more common among men; however, the American Urological Association reported 16,000 women suffering from this condition in 2016. When this happens, there is a potential of tumors developing along the urinary system, thus obstructing paths and causing overflow incontinence. Hematuria, the presence of blood in the urine stream, is a common sign of bladder cancer.

Treatment options for urinary incontinence

If you’re struggling with mild or occasional urinary incontinence, there are several things you can try at home to help improve your bladder control. Simple ways to help include doing Kegel exercises, drinking more water and less diuretics (e.g., coffee, tea, alcohol), setting a schedule for bathroom trips and losing excess weight.

There are also different treatment plans for women (and men) who have more severe urinary incontinence, so don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor. The sooner you address the problem, the more successful the treatment will be. Remember that losing control of your bladder is often a symptom of other underlying diseases or conditions, so it is important to seek care and treatment right away.

At All About Women Advanced Gynecology, our compassionate gynecologists in Lake City and Gainesville, Florida, have helped countless women find solutions for urinary incontinence issues. Schedule an appointment today to discuss treatment options that may be right for you.