It can happen at any age. The most common kind of urinary incontinence in women is stress incontinence, in which urine leaks during lifting, exercise, coughing, sneezing, or laughing. This is due to relaxed pelvic muscles that may have been stretched or torn during pregnancy. Overflow incontinence is common in older men when an enlarged prostate gland constricts the urethra. This causes small amounts of urine to leak from a bladder that is always full.
Urge incontinence is an inability to hold the urine once the urge to urinate occurs.
You are unable to get to the bathroom in time. It often occurs with Parkinson's disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. It can occur in healthy people, too. Your doctor will take a careful history and examine you to see if the incontinence is caused by an underlying condition that can be corrected. Your blood and urine will be checked for infection or other abnormalities.