Female Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. It can happen when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or jog. Or you may have a sudden need to go to the bathroom but can't get there in time. Bladder control problems are very common, especially among older adults. They usually don't cause major health problems, but they can be embarrassing.
Incontinence can be a short-term problem caused by a urinary tract infection, a medicine, or constipation. It gets better when you treat the problem that is causing it. But this topic focuses on ongoing urinary incontinence.
Preventing Female-Incontinence
- Doing pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises to strengthen your pelvic muscles.
- Staying at a healthy weight. For more information, see the topic Weight Management.
- Quitting smoking. Smoking causes coughing, which can make it harder to control your urine. Quitting smoking relieves coughing. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.