See the box below for a list of common causes. There are 4 types of urinary incontinence. A brief explanation of each follows. Stress incontinence Stress incontinence is when urine leaks because of sudden pressure on your lower stomach muscles, such as when you cough, laugh, lift something or exercise. Stress incontinence usually occurs when the pelvic muscles are weakened, for example by childbirth or surgery.
Stress incontinence is common in women.
Your body may only give you a warning of a few seconds to minutes before you urinate. Urge incontinence is most common in the elderly and may be a sign of an infection in the kidneys or bladder. This type of incontinence is a constant dripping of urine. It's caused by an overfilled bladder. This often occurs in men and can be caused by something blocking the urinary flow, such as an enlarged prostate gland or tumor.