The specific causes of incontinence are numerous. Its hallmark is the involuntary loss of urine during physical activity, sneezing, or coughing. The disorder may have its roots in the unique stress that pregnancy places on the urinary tract. However, symptoms may not be noticed until menopause, when the bladder tissues start to sag due to a drop in estrogen levels. Estrogen supplements often improve the condition.
Urge incontinence is marked by an urgent, and quickly irresistible desire to urinate.
In most cases, uninhibited bladder contractions are at fault. They may be a result of damage to the central nervous system from stroke or diseases such as multiple sclerosis, or may be caused by urinary infections or bladder tumors. A variant of this disorder is reflex incontinence , in which unintended urination occurs without feelings of urgency. Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder cannot empty normally and becomes overdistended. This condition usually involves frequent, sometimes nearly constant, urine loss.