What I Need to Know About Bladder Control for Women

You may think bladder control problems are something that happen when you get older. The truth is that women of all ages have urine leakage. The problem is also called incontinence. Men leak urine too, but the problem is more common in women. Many women leak urine when they exercise, laugh hard, cough, or sneeze. Often women leak urine when they are pregnant or after they have given birth. Women who have stopped having their periods-menopause-often report bladder control problems. Female athletes of all ages sometimes have urine leakage during strenuous sports activities. Urine leakage may be a small bother or a large problem. About half of adult women say they have had urine leakage at one time or another. Many women say it's a daily problem. Urine leakage is more common in older women, but that doesn't mean it's a natural part of aging. You don't have to "just live with it." You can do something about it and regain your bladder control. Incontinence is not a disease. But it may be a sign that something is wrong. It's a medical problem, and a doctor or nurse can help. This publication by the National Institutes of Health (Publication No. 07-4195) provides information in bladder control problems, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.