Urinary incontinence — the loss of bladder control — is a common and often embarrassing problem. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that's so sudden and strong you don't get to a toilet in time.Scheduleyourappointmentnowforsafein-personcare.Learnmore:MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)Our COVID-19patient andvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformationLateston COVID-19vaccination bysite:ArizonapatientvaccinationupdatesArizona,FloridapatientvaccinationupdatesFlorida,RochesterpatientvaccinationupdatesRochesterandMayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdatesMCHSSkiptositenavigationSkiptoContentThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion.SectionsforUrinaryincontinenceSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinicPrintOverviewUrinaryincontinence—thelossofbladdercontrol—isacommonandoftenembarrassingproblem.Theseverityrangesfromoccasionallyleakingurinewhenyoucoughorsneezetohavinganurgetourinatethat'ssosuddenandstrongyoudon'tgettoatoiletintime.Thoughitoccursmoreoftenaspeoplegetolder,urinaryincontinenceisn'taninevitableconsequenceofaging.Ifurinaryincontinenceaffectsyourdailyactivities,don'thesitatetoseeyourdoctor.Formostpeople,simplelifestyleanddietarychangesormedicalcarecantreatsymptomsofurinaryincontinence.Products&ServicesBook:MayoCliniconManagingIncontinenceBook:MayoClinicTheMenopauseSolutionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinicSymptomsManypeopleexperienceoccasional,minorleaksofurine.Othersmaylosesmalltomoderateamountsofurinemorefrequently.Typesofurinaryincontinenceinclude:Stressincontinence.Urineleakswhenyouexertpressureonyourbladderbycoughing,sneezing,laughing,exercisingorliftingsomethingheavy.Urgeincontinence.Youhaveasudden,intenseurgetourinatefollowedbyaninvoluntarylossofurine.Youmayneedtourinateoften,includingthroughoutthenight.Urgeincontinencemaybecausedbyaminorcondition,suchasinfection,oramoresevereconditionsuchasaneurological