Urinary incontinence means a person leaks urine by accident. While it may happen to anyone, urinary incontinence is more common in older ...SkiptomaincontentBreadcrumbHomeHealthInformationUrinaryIncontinenceinOlderAdultsUrinaryIncontinenceinOlderAdultsUrinaryincontinencemeansapersonleaksurinebyaccident.Whileitmayhappentoanyone,urinaryincontinenceismorecommoninolderpeople,especiallywomen.Incontinencecanoftenbecuredorcontrolled.Talktoyourhealthcareprovideraboutwhatyoucando.Whathappensinthebodytocausebladdercontrolproblems?Thebodystoresurineinthebladder.Duringurination,musclesinthebladdertightentomoveurineintoatubecalledtheurethra.Atthesametime,themusclesaroundtheurethrarelaxandlettheurinepassoutofthebody.Whenthemusclesinandaroundthebladderdon’tworkthewaytheyshould,urinecanleak.Incontinencetypicallyoccursifthemusclesrelaxwithoutwarning.CausesofUrinaryIncontinenceIncontinencecanhappenformanyreasons.Forexample,urinarytractinfections,vaginalinfectionorirritation,constipation.Somemedicinescancausebladdercontrolproblemsthatlastashorttime.Whenincontinencelastslonger,itmaybedueto:WeakbladdermusclesOveractivebladdermusclesWeakpelvicfloormusclesDamagetonervesthatcontrolthebladderfromdiseasessuchasmultiplesclerosis,diabetes,orParkinson’sdiseaseBlockagefromanenlargedprostateinmenDiseasessuchasarthritisthatmaymakeitdifficulttogettothebathroomintimePelvicorganprolapse,whichiswhenpelvicorgans(suchasthebladder,rectum,oruterus)shiftoutoftheirnormalplaceintothevagina.Whenpelvicorgansareoutofplace,thebladderandurethraarenotabletoworknormally,whichmaycauseurinetoleak.Mostincontinenceinmenisrelatedtotheprostategland.Maleincontinencemaybecausedby:Prostatitis—apainfulinflammationoftheprostateglandInjury,ordamagetonervesormusclesfromsurgeryAnenlargedprostategland,whichcanleadtoBenignProstateHyperplasia(BPH),aconditionwheretheprostategrowsasmenage.DiagnosisofUrinaryIncontinenceThefirststepintreatingincontinenceistoseeadoctor.Heorshewillgiveyouaphysicalexamandtakeyourmedicalhistory.Thedoctorwi