The more the bladder stretches, the more urgent the desire to urinate. Incontinence can occur for many reasons. Urinary tract infections, vaginal infection or irritation, constipation, and certain medications may cause temporary incontinence. Anything that damages the nerves or muscles at the bottom of the pelvis, or the pelvic floor, increases the risk. Anatomical differences between the sexes affect the underlying causes and the tendency for certain types of incontinence to develop.
Urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine associated with a strong desire to urinate.
The person can't control urination long enough to get to the toilet in time. Mixed incontinence, the coexistence of stress and urge incontinence, is more common in older women. Often one is more bothersome than the other. Overflow incontinence is the result of chronic urine retention in people who can't empty their bladders. The bladder is always full, leading to frequent or constant dribbling.