The lack of bladder control, or spilling pee, is known as urinary incontinence.
The kidneys produce urine, which is then deposited in the bladder. When you need to pee, the muscles in your bladder contract. Urine is pushed out of your bladder via a tube called the urethra when the bladder muscles contract. Sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra relax at the same moment, allowing urine to exit the body.
When the bladder muscles abruptly contract and the sphincter muscles aren’t strong enough to pinch the urethra shut, incontinence may occur. You may be unable to manage a sudden, intense desire to urinate as a result of this. Urine leakage may be induced by the pressure created by laughing, sneezing, or exercising. Urinary incontinence may also occur if the nerves that regulate the bladder muscles and urethra are damaged. You may leak a little quantity of pee or a large volume of urine all at once if you have urinary incontinence.
What causes incontinence of the bladder?
Problems with the muscles and nerves that assist the bladder retain or pass pee are the most common causes of urinary incontinence. These muscles and nerves may be affected by certain health events that are specific to women, such as pregnancy, delivery, and menopause.
Urinary incontinence may also be caused by:
Overweight. Obesity puts strain on the bladder, causing the muscles to weaken with time. A weak bladder can’t store as much pee as a strong bladder.
Constipation. People with long-term (chronic) constipation may have bladder control issues. Constipation, or the inability to pass a bowel movement, may place strain on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles. This causes muscular weakness, which may lead to urine incontinence or leakage.
Damage to the nerves. Nerve damage may cause signals to be sent to the bladder at the incorrect time or not at all. Nerve damage in the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles may occur as a result of childbirth and health issues such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
Surgery. Any operation involving a woman’s reproductive organs, such as a hysterectomy, may harm the pelvic floor muscles that support her reproductive organs, particularly if the uterus is removed. 5 If a woman’s pelvic floor muscles are injured, her bladder muscles may not function properly. Urinary incontinence may result as a result of this.
Urinary incontinence may occur for a brief period of time for a variety of causes, including:
Certain pharmaceuticals. Diuretics (water tablets) used to treat heart failure, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, and some renal disorders may cause urinary incontinence as a side effect. When you stop taking the medication, the incontinence usually goes away.
Caffeine. Caffeine-containing beverages may cause your bladder to fill rapidly, causing you to leak pee. According to studies, women who consume more than two cups of caffeine-containing beverages each day are more prone to have incontinence issues. 6 Caffeine restriction may assist with incontinence by reducing the pressure on your bladder.
Infection. Infections of the urinary system and bladder may induce temporary incontinence. When the illness is gone, bladder control usually recovers.
