# What Causes Urinary Incontinence

TL;DR Urinary incontinence has multiple causes depending on the type. Stress incontinence results from weakened pelvic floor muscles due to pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or prostate surgery. Urge incontinence stems from overactive bladder muscle contractions, often linked to neurological conditions, infections, or aging. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder cannot empty fully due to obstruction or nerve damage. Risk factors include age (affects 25-45% of women and 5-15% of men), obesity, chronic coughing, diabetes, and certain medications. Medically reviewed by Poonam Patel, RN-BSN, CPNP Urinary incontinence can be caused by a variety of health issues, and it affects millions of people around the world. Dealing with incontinence is not uncommon, and can be handled properly with the right knowledge and products. It's important to not add stress to your daily life and with some guidance from WellBefore, we’ve got you covered when it comes to your incontinence struggles. WellBefore carries several urinary incontinence products made for all types of people. With WellBefore products, you can feel confident knowing you're fully protected on a daily basis. What Is Urinary Incontinence? Urinary incontinence is when you have urine leakage that you cannot control. Urinary incontinence can feel like somewhat of a taboo topic, and because of this, most will suffer in silence as they have a hard time telling people around them what they are experiencing. Urinary incontinence doesn't only affect your physical health. When left unaddressed, urinary incontinence can affect emotional, social, and psychological aspects of your life. First things first, let’s cover the types of incontinence. The Four Types of Urinary Incontinence Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) When weak pelvic muscles are unable to control urine flow, oftentimes, leakage can occur while exercising or moving around. Bending, stretching, coughing, and sneezing can also cause leakage in cases of stress incontinence. SUI is more common in women than men. Kegel exercises may be able to help. Overactive Bladder (OAB) With OAB, also known as urge incontinence, your brain believes your bladder is full and needs to empty, even when it’s not full. Overactive bladder muscles pushing urine out, even when there is a lack of necessity, causes OAB. OAB is found more frequently in men with prostate problems but can also affect women after menopause. Mixed Incontinence (SUI and OAB) This diagnosis is when a person has urine leaks due to physical activity like a cough or has the constant urge to use the bathroom. Overflow Incontinence When the body produces too much urine for the bladder to hold, it can cause constant dripping to happen or frequent small amounts of urination, regardless of fluid intake. This kind of urinary incontinence is rare in women and most often occurs in men with a medical history of prostate problems or those who have had prostate surgery. There is also functional incontinence which is common in older people and has less to do with a physical cause for the involuntary loss of urine. Instead, it centers around a lack of mobility that makes it difficult to use the toilet physically. The WellBefore team wants you to feel confident in your skin again. No matter what kind of incontinence that you struggle with, you should be covered. With multiple urinary incontinence products, we want you to take back your life—and your bladder control. What Causes Urinary Incontinence? Urinary incontinence does not just affect older people! It affects people of all ages and is caused by several medical problems. This common misinterpretation leads to embarrassment for someone who experiences urinary incontinence but is not elderly. Men and women experience different forms of urinary incontinence due to a variety of reasons. While urinary incontinence can affect men and women in the same way, it’s important to understand some of the differences so you can determine why you may be experiencing a form of urinary incontinence. Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Women Pregnancy Almost half of the women who become pregnant will experience urinary incontinence. This is because while the baby is growing inside the uterus, it pushes on the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles. This pressure weakens the pelvic muscles and leads to urine leaks . Your muscles must heal after pregnancy for your urination process to go back to normal. Childbirth During labor and vaginal birth, some of the pelvic floor muscles experience trauma from overuse. This causes nerve damage and requires your body to heal for weeks to allow your pelvic floor muscles to recuperate and return to normal function. Menopause Your urethra and bladder muscles lose some of their strength, as all muscles do as you age. During menopause, you produce less estrogen, which may weaken the urethra. Causes of Urinary Incontinence in Men Enlarged Prostate This is a common health issue that men get as they get older. It blocks the flow of urine leaving the bladder, causing unknown leaking. General Causes of Urinary Incontinence In general, the following are also causes of urinary incontinence : Aging As people get older, their muscles weaken, causing a multitude of issues. The pelvic muscle will also weaken, causing unwarranted leakage of small amounts of urine. Weight Additionally, if you have become overweight, excess weight can push down onto the urethra and cause the muscles to weaken. Nerve Damage Childbirth and health problems can cause nerve damage in the urethral sphincter, bladder, or pelvic floor muscles. Neurological Disorders Different neurological disorders can be the reason for urinary incontinence. Losing muscle function due to a stroke, multiple sclerosis, kidney issues, memory loss, etc., can cause your bladder to leak, as can certain medications. Smoking Smoking is connected to several different urologic illnesses . By cutting back or quitting, you limit the chances of developing urinary incontinence later in life. Products That Can Help With Urinary Incontinence It’s hard to feel confident when you’re worried about where the closest bathroom will be. WellBefore supplies many products that are essential to have for your urinary incontinence. From bed pads to adult diapers and liners, we’ve got the right product for you: Adult Diapers Adult diapers are full coverage products from WellBefore. Adult diapers come in two different styles: pull-ups and tabbed. Pull-up adult diapers are easier to get into and require less help when wearing. They can be easily put on and taken off. They work best for urine incontinence because they are easy to change. However, they might not be as secure for fecal incontinence. If you deal with mobility difficulties, adult diapers are a great option because you will feel secure and comfortable all day. Adult diapers with tabs are best suited for someone who requires help putting the diapers on. The tabs are great because they fit securely to your body and allow you to adjust them. Because of their strength and function, these diapers are required to be secured onto your body, so they can be difficult to change out of on your own. Check out our post on Choosing the Best Adult Diapers for more information. Incontinence Briefs & Underwear If you are looking for more discreet protection from leakage during the day, we have incontinence underwear and briefs. There are plenty of specialized boxer briefs for men and lighter underwear for women made to be worn underneath normal clothes without giving you a puffy look that diapers can give. Incontinence briefs and underwear can help limit embarrassment from dealing with urinary incontinence. If you struggle with prostate issues and cannot control your bladder, incontinence briefs help you feel comfortable during your daily activities. For pregnant women or those who have just had a baby, lighter underwear might be your best option. You can still be mobile and active without having to worry about a leak. Urinary incontinence shouldn’t deter you, and WellBefore carries the products to help customers with that. Liners & Bed Pads For those who do not like the feel of a diaper, yet need more protection than lighter underwear or briefs provide, consider purchasing absorbent incontinence pads or adhesive liners that can be attached to your underwear. WellBefore carries many different adhesive liners and large bed pads for ultimate protection. Sleep is essential, and you should be protected while resting. Using a bed pad can help to absorb liquid throughout the night so that you wake up feeling refreshed. For those who want similar protection to a diaper, absorbent adhesive liners that stick onto your underwear are helpful. These are easy to change and can be carried with you in a bag discreetly to be accessible wherever and whenever. Sources: Urinary Incontinence | NHS Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults | National Institute on Aging Urinary Incontinence | Women's Health Incontinence: Symptoms & Treatment | Urology Health Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (Bph) - Symptoms And Causes | Mayo Clinic Urinary Incontinence - Symptoms And Causes | Mayo Clinic Smoking: Its Impact on Urologic Health | NCBI Frequently Asked Questions What are the main types of urinary incontinence? The main types are: stress incontinence (leaking during physical activity, coughing, or sneezing), urge incontinence (sudden intense need to urinate with involuntary leakage), overflow incontinence (bladder does not empty fully, causing constant dribbling), functional incontinence (physical or mental barriers prevent reaching the toilet), and mixed incontinence (combination of two or more types). Is urinary incontinence a normal part of aging? While incontinence becomes more common with age (affecting 25-45% of women and 5-15% of men), it is not an inevitable part of aging and should not be dismissed as normal. Age-related changes like decreased bladder capacity and weakened pelvic floor muscles increase risk, but effective treatments exist including pelvic floor therapy, medications, and lifestyle modifications. Can urinary incontinence be cured? Many cases of urinary incontinence can be significantly improved or fully resolved. Stress incontinence responds well to pelvic floor exercises (Kegels), which strengthen the muscles controlling urination. Urge incontinence can be managed with bladder training and medications. Surgical options exist for cases that do not respond to conservative treatment. Success rates vary by type and severity. When should I see a doctor about incontinence? See a doctor if incontinence affects your daily activities, sleep, or quality of life; if you experience sudden onset of incontinence; if there is blood in your urine; if incontinence is accompanied by pain; if you have difficulty emptying your bladder completely; or if you have recurrent urinary tract infections alongside incontinence symptoms. Read our complete guide: Best Incontinence Products of 2026 — Complete Buying Guide