Female Urinary Incontinence Worsens With Age

Leslie M. Rickey, MD, MPH, discusses rates of urinary incontinence in women and explains that contributing factors to are not limited to the bodily changes related to pregnancy but can also be attributed to comorbidities such as diabetes, pulmonary disorders, and obesity.

Across the world, women experience higher incidences of urinary incontinence than men. About one-third of women surveyed have experienced leakage associated with physical exertion, laughing, or sneezing. Contributing factors to urinary incontinence in women are not limited to the bodily changes related to pregnancy, but can also be attributed to co-morbidities such as diabetes, pulmonary disorders, and obesity.

Unfortunately, any trigger for urinary incontinence tends to get worse with age. However, there are some things that women can do to improve their bladder control, whether they've experienced leakage or not. Pelvic floor and Kegel exercises can greatly increase the ability of the pelvic muscles to better regulate the function of the urinary tract, while having the added benefit of improving sensitivity during sex.

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