What exactly causes urinary incontinence?

It varies: Depends on age, gender and co-existent medical problems young women: interstitial cystitis in elderly the common cause is bladder irritation due to urine infection. Diabetes, obstruction, nerve injury are other factors.

Many factors: Much of incontinence is related to genetic factors. Other common factors include: weak ligaments & muscles due to pregnancy and childbirth, bladder spasms, urinary tract infection, neurologic damage (spinal cord injury, stroke, ms), diabetes, chronic cough chronic heavy lifting, chronic constipation and obesity.

Two common types: The two most common types of urinary incontinence (ui) are stress ui, which is generally caused by a loss of pelvic support to the urethra and bladder neck, and urge ui, which is generally caused by an overactive detrusor muscle (the involuntary muscle in the bladder wall).

Urinary Incontinence: There are a few types of incontinence: stress incontinence: leaking w/ activity/coughing/ sneezing or urge incontinence: a sudden urge to got to the bathroom. Different types of incontinence are treated differently. Some can be treated with surgery and others medication.A good resource is www.voicesforpfd.org. You can also discuss further with a gynecologist/ urogynecologist/urologist

Depends upon type!: Stress urinary incontinence, SUI, due to weakness of pelvic floor musculature &/or bladder neck (internal) sphincter. Urge incontinence to involuntary bladder contraction caused by overactive bladder, UTI, interstitial cystitis or bladder stone. Neurogenic incontinence from Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal cord abnormalities congenital or acquired from trauma, disc prolapse, tumor or diabetes. Anatomic

UI: Urinary incontinence is the loss of urine from your urethra/bladder when you don't want it to happen. There are many causes but the most common are stress incontinence (leaking with coughing, sneezing, exercising, etc.) and urge incontinence (unable to make it to the toilet prior to voiding).