Urinary incontinence happens when the bladder accidentally leaks urine. Loss of bladder control is embarrassing, but also more common than you may think.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40% of women over the age of 65 have urinary incontinence. The impacts of pregnancy, childbirth and menopause contribute to the increased incidence of incontinence in women as opposed to men.
Health Expert
Ian Rosbrugh, MD
Urogynecologist
Learn more at
MeritasHealth.com/IRosbrugh.
These health events can weaken the pelvic floor, which makes it harder to hold urine until an appropriate time. Because the female urethra is shorter than the male, any damage to the urethra makes incontinence more probable.
Other causes of incontinence include:
- Constipation. Straining too hard can put pressure on the bladder and pelvic muscles.
- Nerve damage. Childbirth, diabetes and multiple sclerosis can cause nerve damage which results in sending signals to the bladder at the wrong time.
- Obesity. Being overweight puts more additional pressure on the bladder, which may weaken the muscles over time.
- Surgery. Any surgery on female reproductive organs – especially if the uterus is removed – can damage pelvic muscles.
Fortunately, your doctor can work with you to develop a treatment plan. Some easy steps to take at home include:
- Drinking less caffeine
- Doing Kegel exercises
- Losing weight
- Quitting smoking
- Treating constipation
If these steps don’t work over time, North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health have a team of urogynecologists who can correct the condition.
“Aging women don’t have to suffer with incontinence,” said Ian Rosbrugh, MD, a urogynecologist with Meritas Health Urogynecology. “We offer various minimally invasive and surgical treatments to help control urination, so women can live the life they want without worrying about incontinence.”