Urinary Incontinence Causes

Why is this happening to me?

Urinary incontinence is usually the result of an underlying physical problem, like weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles and tissues, or nerve damage. Sadly, the symptoms that result are often uncomfortable and embarrassing. Some common urinary incontinence causes that women should be aware of include:

	Pregnancy Childbirth Aging Prior pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy Medical conditions Obesity Trauma and radiation

Common causes of urinary incontinence

Why it happens

If you’ve suffered from embarrassing accidents you must have asked the obvious question—why is this happening to me? To understand how these common life events, conditions, and medical procedures can impact bladder control, you should be aware of these causes:

Pregnancy

A woman’s body goes through enormous changes when carrying a baby and that stretching and strain can lead to temporary or even permanently weakened or damaged pelvic floor muscles. When that happens, the bladder and urethra can shift from their normal positions, making it difficult for the urethra to close tightly, allowing urine to escape.

Childbirth

Is it any wonder that, given the demands placed on a woman’s body during vaginal delivery, muscles and ligaments may be weakened or damaged? That damage, which can be increased by multiple births, a difficult delivery, or the birth of a large baby, may allow the bladder and urethra to fall from their normal positions. When that happens, they can no longer function as effectively as they once had.

Aging

With age, a woman’s body may lose muscle strength and tone. When that occurs, the weakened muscles may not be able to provide the support to the bladder and urethra needed to maintain continence.

Prior pelvic surgery, including hysterectomy

During pelvic procedures, important supportive muscles and ligaments may be removed or damaged. If that happens, the bladder and urethra may relax from their proper anatomical position. The urethra may then be unable to close tightly, allowing urine to escape.

Medical conditions

Conditions that result in loss of muscle tone, muscle control, or which place greater strain on the pelvic floor muscles—like chronic cough, thyroid problems, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, bladder cancer or stones, interstitial cystitis, urinary obstruction, or spinal cord injury—can lead to urinary incontinence.

Obesity

While not a direct cause of urinary incontinence, added weight places greater strain on a woman’s pelvic region, weakening important supportive tissues.

Trauma and radiation

Other causes of urinary incontinence may also include trauma or radiation.

There are many causes of bladder leakage. Regardless of why you began to experience symptoms, the message is still the same—you don’t have to live with this condition. Speak to a specialist about your treatment options today.