Medical news and reports state that women are twice as likely as men to experience urinary incontinence. This condition occurs when urine is uncontrollably released from the urinary system. In most cases, the leakage that occurs is small, but in several cases, large amounts of urine can be released. Women may experience urinary incontinence for many reasons, but before treatment options can determined, the type of incontinence and the cause must be established.

The most common form of urinary incontinence that women may experience is called stress incontinence. This is caused by a weakening of the fascia tissue in the pelvic floor. This type of incontinence is often associated with pregnancy and child birth, as these events cause changes to a woman’s body. In stress incontinence, the weakened pelvic muscles are unable to support the urethra and cannot prevent the leakage of urine that is caused by abdominal muscle contractions that apply pressure to the urinary bladder. Sneezing, laughing, coughing or any other exertive action can cause leakage in this case. Stress incontinence can reportedly increase before menstruation and also increases with menopause.

Overflow incontinence is a condition in which the bladder continuously leaks urine. The leakage is small and sometimes comes in the form of a continuous dribble after urinating. This form of urinary incontinence usually affects men more than women, as prostrate difficulties often contribute to it, but many women who have suffered from fibroid or ovarian tumors may experience overflow incontinence.

Medical news states that nearly 35% of women over 60 suffer from some sort of urinary incontinence, and women are also twice as likely as men to suffer from it. This condition is often associated with other health problems such as obesity and diabetes. Women who suffer from urinary incontinence may suffer from depression and not be as active. Recognizing and treating incontinence is important to promote good physical and mental health.

Fortunately, there are many treatments available for urinary incontinence that women can pursue. These treatments may include exercises that train and strengthen the pelvic muscles. Also, a variety of medications are available for treatment. In the absence of results from these treatments, there are surgical options as well. An urologist is a doctor who specializes in the urinary tract and can provide information on treatment options that can reduce or eliminate this condition. There are also doctors who specialize in the urinary system of women called urogynecologist. With so many treatment options and the availability of specialists, women who suffer from urinary incontinence can find help for their condition.