Urinary incontinence is less common in men, but still can occur, especially where the man has prostate disease of any sort. You may have been born with a defective bladder or sphincter, which means you have always leaked or start to leak once other factors of ageing add to the problem. You may have had trauma to the entrance to the bladder, 'pelvic floor' or bowel during childbirth. With the menopause , many women notice that their bladder becomes lax, with leakage of urine. It can occur during kidney or urinary tract infections.
Severe constipation can cause incontinence.
Your bladder may be oversensitive. It can be caused by nerve damage such as spinal cord injury or with nerve diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Your doctor will want to discuss it with you, examine you and a sample of your urine, and may suggest ways in which you can help yourself before trying any medication. Treatments 'Re-training' of the bladder may help, especially where the bladder has been overstretched by failing to empty it and 'holding on'. Pelvic floor exercises are most useful in women whose pelvic floor has been damaged or stretched during childbirth.