Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine and it is a very common problem, especially as a woman becomes older. It affects one in three women over the age of 50. Fortunately treatment is usually highly effective.

There are three main types of incontinence:

• Stress incontinence – This is when urine is lost due to activities that increase abdominal pressure such as coughing, sneezing and exercise. This is usually a result of the urethra being too mobile or the bladder neck being weak. It can be treated very well with intensive pelvic floor exercises or sling surgery procedures.
• Urge incontinence – This occurs when there is an urgency to pass urine and often leads to an involuntary leak on the way to the bathroom. It is usually due to an overactive bladder muscle but may also be caused by irritation of the bladder from a number of causes including infection. Treatment is usually via bladder training and medications to calm the bladder muscle down.
• Mixed incontinence – This is a combination of both urge and stress incontinence.Risk factors for urinary incontinence include pregnancy and vaginal delivery of a baby, especially if this was difficult, previous prolapse surgery, menopause, chronic abdominal strain, medications, and genetic factors.

Risk factors for urinary incontinence include pregnancy and vaginal delivery of a baby, especially if this was difficult, previous prolapse surgery, menopause, chronic abdominal strain, medications, and genetic factors.