Incontinence is not a disease, but rather a symptom of other underlying conditions. Because of this, it is extremely important to immediately contact your doctor upon noticing any changes with your body.

 

Some causes of incontinence are temporary, while others are long term. With temporary causes (vaginal infections, medication, constipation, and instances of limited mobility), incontinence subsides when the causes go away. In other cases, when the causes are not temporary, it is likely that the leakage is one of the four types of urinary incontinence; urge, stress, mixed, overflow. You can learn more about them here.

 

Long term urinary troubles are often caused by a number of factors. Many of these include nocturnal enuresis, chronic cough or asthma, clostridium, constipation, neurogenic bladder, neurgenic bowel, nocturia, smoking, and underactive bladder.

 

The leading cause of urinary incontinence in both men and women are urinary tract infections. Medical conditions such as dementia, stroke, and diabetes, as well as neurological damage such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, or brain injury, are also long term causes of urinary incontinence in both men and women.

 

There are also a number of gender-based factors that can result in urinary incontinence. In women, the main causes of urinary incontinence result from changes during childbirth, pregnancy, and menopause. Examples include a prolapsed uterus, estrogen depletion, and weight gain. Weakened pelvic floor muscles also lose their elasticity with everyday activities like laughing, coughing, lifting, running. However, they can be strengthened again.

 

In men, there is no single cause of urinary incontinence but common factors include swollen prostate, prostate surgery, nerve damage, brain injury, medication, being overweight, and diuretic medications.