Treating Urinary Incontinence

2007 Women's Health Daybook Home > Treating Urinary Incontinence

Urinary [YOOR-in-air-ee] incontinence [in-KAHN-tih-nens] is when urine leaks out before you can get to a bathroom. If you have urinary incontinence, you're not alone. Millions of women have this problem. More than 13 million Americans—men and women, young and old—have incontinence. Women are more likely to leak urine than men.

Older women have more bladder control problems than younger women. It does not have to be a normal part of aging. Many medical conditions can cause incontinence problems. Loss of bladder control is a symptom of an underlying disorder, a sign that something is wrong. The worst thing you can do is to ignore it. The best thing you can do is to talk to your doctor. Acknowledge the problem. Tell your doctor. Get treatment. Learn how to manage incontinence. Most cases of poor bladder control can be improved greatly, and some even cured.

Download the Chapter: Treating Urinary Incontinence — PDF file, 520 KB

Current as of February 2007