What is Urinary Incontinence?
Simply put, urinary incontinence is the loss of control of the bladder. Urinary leakage may be minor and the occasional result of sneezing or coughing, or it may be more severe. Urinary incontinence may be one of the occurrences of getting older, but that isn’t always the case. Younger adults may be affected by urinary incontinence.
Causes of Urinary Incontinence
The problem may be caused by daily habits, physical problems, or medical issues. Foods, drinks, and some medications may cause the urge to urinate, including caffeine, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners. Foods high in acids, spices, or sugar may cause the urge to urinate. Medications may include muscle relaxers, heart medications, and blood pressure medications. Vitamin C in large doses may also cause incontinence.
Urinary tract infections and constipation may cause the urge to urinate frequently. Pregnancy and childbirth cause hormonal changes that can lead to incontinence. Vaginal birth can weaken the muscles that control the bladder. Another bladder control issue women often face occurs during menopause. The hormone estrogen decreases during menopause. Estrogen keeps the linings of the urethra and the bladder healthy. When the tissue deteriorates, it can cause incontinence.
In men, urinary incontinence may be caused by bladder cancer or an enlarged prostate. Aging can cause the bladder to have less capacity to store urine, which may cause leakage, and involuntary contractions of the bladder become more frequent as we age. An issue that can affect men or women is an obstruction in the urinary tract. The obstruction may be a tumor, or it could be bladder stones, which are hard masses that form within the bladder and could cause urinary leakage. Factors that could increase the risk of incontinence include excess weight, gender, age, smoking, disease, and family history. Women are more likely to have stress incontinence. Another factor which can cause incontinence is certain neurological conditions like MS, which affects women more often.
What Does Urinary Incontinence Mean
Urinary incontinence means that a person is unable to control the flow of urine. UI can be a minor problem with some people. In others, it can have a significant effect on daily life. If you experience urinary incontinence, it’s essential to see your healthcare professional to determine the cause and the most effective treatment.
What is Functional Urinary Incontinence
Functional incontinence is usually the result of a physical or mental health impairment that prevents a person from getting to the bathroom in time. An example is a person with arthritis who can’t unbutton their clothes in time. Other types of the disorder include urge incontinence, overflow, stress, and mixed incontinence.
Urinary Incontinence Treatment
If urinary incontinence disrupts your daily routine, you should contact your doctor, or reach out to ARMS Medical for more information. A diagnosis may be made through checking your medical history, urine and blood tests, imaging, testing the bladder function, and a physical exam. Dietary and lifestyle changes and treatment options usually resolve the problem for most people. Depending on the severity, your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce spasms, medical devices like a catheter, injectable bulking agents to thicken the bladder tissue, electrical nerve stimulation, fluid management, bedside suction devices, or surgery.
Curious to learn more about urinary incontinence? Contact the team at ARMS Medical today.
Urinary Incontinence: What It Is, Causes, and How to Fix (Women’s Edition)
4-Minute Read
Why This Matters for You
Bladder leaks can be both embarrassing and overwhelming—especially when they interfere with work, exercise, or intimacy. Millions of women experience urinary incontinence, but you don’t have to accept leaks as “just part of getting older” or “what happens after kids.” By understanding what causes urinary incontinence in women and exploring female-focused treatments, you can reclaim your confidence and comfort.
1. What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of bladder control. For many women, it shows up as:
- A few drops when you sneeze or cough (stress incontinence)
- Sudden, overwhelming urges to pee you can’t always reach the bathroom in time (urge incontinence)
- A constant dribble because your bladder never seems fully empty (overflow incontinence)
- A combination of these patterns (mixed incontinence)
Whether you’re in your 30s or 70s, an occasional leak isn’t “normal,” and help is available.
2. Common Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Women
Women’s anatomy and life events create unique risk factors:
- Pregnancy & Childbirth
- Carrying a baby stretches pelvic-floor muscles and connective tissue.
- Vaginal birth can weaken or injure the muscles that support your bladder and urethra.
- Hormonal Changes (Menopause)
- Falling estrogen levels thin and weaken tissues around the urethra and bladder lining.
- Dryness and discomfort can make leaks feel worse.
- Aging & Pelvic-Floor Weakness
- Even without surgery or childbirth, pelvic-floor muscles lose tone over time.
- Gravity, chronic coughing or constipation can accelerate that weakening.
- Lifestyle & Diet Triggers
- Caffeine & Alcohol: Irritate the bladder, causing sudden urges.
- Spicy or Acidic Foods: Can trigger bladder spasms.
- High-Sugar Diet: May increase urinary frequency and urgency.
- Obesity & Extra Pounds
- Every extra ten pounds adds roughly 50 pounds of pressure on your bladder.
- Losing even a few pounds can lessen leaks.
- Medical Conditions & Medications
- UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections): Cause inflammation, urgency and burning.
- Constipation: Puts pressure on your bladder, making leaks more likely.
- Certain Meds: Diuretics (“water pills”), some antidepressants or blood pressure drugs can increase urine volume or relax bladder muscles.
- Neurological Conditions: MS or spinal injuries can disrupt nerve signals that control your bladder.
3. How to Know Which Type You Have
- Stress Incontinence: You leak when sneezing, laughing, jumping or lifting.
- Urge Incontinence (Overactive Bladder): You feel a sudden, intense urge to go—even if your bladder is not full—followed by leakage.
- Overflow Incontinence: You dribble or feel like you never fully empty; often felt as a constant dampness.
- Functional Incontinence: You know you need to go, but physical limitations (like severe arthritis) or cognitive barriers (like dementia) make it hard to reach the bathroom in time.
- Mixed Incontinence: You experience both stress and urge symptoms.
Keeping a bladder diary for several days—recording what you eat or drink, when you leak and when you void—can help your doctor identify your specific pattern.
4. How to Fix Urinary Incontinence (Women’s Focus)
A. Lifestyle & Behavioral Adjustments
- Bladder Training
- Schedule bathroom visits every 60–90 minutes—even if you don’t feel a strong urge.
- Gradually increase intervals by 15 minutes each week until you’re voiding every 2–3 hours.
- Fluid & Diet Management
- Reduce caffeine, soda and alcohol—especially in late afternoon and evening.
- Eat a balanced, high-fiber diet to prevent constipation (which can worsen leaks).
- Stay hydrated—but space out fluids, aiming for 6–8 cups per day rather than “all at once.”
- Weight Management
- Losing just 10–15 pounds can reduce bladder pressure and improve control.
- Combine gentle cardio (walking, swimming) with strength training to protect muscle tone.
B. Pelvic-Floor Strengthening (Your Daily Routine)
- Kegel Exercises
- How to Find the Right Muscles: Imagine stopping the flow of urine midstream. Those are your pelvic-floor muscles.
- Routine: Tighten for 3–5 seconds → relax for 3–5 seconds → repeat 10–15 times, 2–3 times per day (morning, afternoon, evening).
- Tip: Avoid “cheating” by tightening your abdomen, buttocks or inner thighs—focus purely on those pelvic floors.
- Pelvic-Floor Physical Therapy & Biofeedback
- A women’s health physical therapist can give you hands-on guidance, use biofeedback to ensure proper muscle activation and introduce advanced strengthening moves like bridge lifts, gentle squats and pelvic tilts.
C. Devices & At-Home Aids
- Pessaries
- A removable silicone ring or device inserted into your vagina to support the bladder neck and reduce leaks—especially for stress incontinence.
- A trained clinician fits it; you remove and clean it regularly.
- VNEW® Urethral Sling (Allograft Alternative)
- For women seeking a long-term fix without synthetic mesh, ARMS Medical’s VNEW® Urethral Sling uses processed human tissue (allograft) to support your urethra.
- Placed via a minimally invasive approach, it lifts and secures the urethra, reducing stress leaks without the risks of synthetic mesh.
D. Medications (When Lifestyle Isn’t Enough)
- Anticholinergics (e.g., oxybutynin): Calm overactive bladder spasms, reducing urge leaks.
- Beta-3 Agonists (e.g., mirabegron): Relax the bladder muscle for better capacity.
- Topical Estrogen (Vaginal Cream or Ring): Restores tissue health around your urethra, ideal if leaks worsened after menopause.
E. Minimally Invasive & Surgical Options
- Injectable Bulking Agents
- Collagen or synthetic gel is injected around the urethra to improve closure pressure.
- Outpatient procedure—ideal for mild to moderate stress incontinence.
- Mid-Urethral Sling Surgery
- A small strip of material (either VNEW® Allograft or traditional mesh) is placed under the middle of your urethra to “hammock” it, preventing leaks when you cough or lift.
- Over 80% of women see significant improvement; VNEW® offers a mesh-free option using human tissue.
- Colposuspension (Retropubic Suspension)
- Secures the bladder neck to strong pelvic ligaments through small incisions, elevating and supporting it.
- Often reserved for women with more complex prolapse or who have had failed slings.
5. When to See Your Doctor
If you experience:
- Leaks more than once a week
- Urgency so strong you can’t reach the bathroom in time
- Nighttime trips to the bathroom (nocturia) that disrupt sleep
- Skin irritation, rashes or urinary tract infections from constant dampness
- Leakage that prevents you from exercising, traveling or enjoying intimacy
…schedule a women’s pelvic-health evaluation. Your OB/GYN or a urogynecologist will review your medical history, perform a physical exam (often including a pelvic-floor assessment), order urine studies, and may recommend ultrasound or urodynamics (bladder pressure tests) if needed.
6. You Are Not Alone—Take Back Control
Urinary incontinence may feel isolating, but millions of women face it—and most find relief through tailored solutions. Whether you start with simple Kegels, try a pessary, opt for VNEW® sling surgery or combine approaches, the goal is clear: no more leaks, no more embarrassment.
Learn More & Explore VNEW® Solutions
For detailed guides, patient stories and to discover ARMS Medical’s VNEW® Urethral Sling, visit:
ARMS Medical – Female Urinary Incontinence
Empower yourself with knowledge—find the plan that works for your life and rediscover worry-free days.
