Leaking urine, also called poor bladder control or urinary incontinence, is not a normal part of aging.
Incontinence is more common in older adults, but can happen at any age. It can be caused by or get worse because of:
- Weak or overactive bladder muscles
- Blood pressure medications, diuretics or "water pills," and other medicines
- Urinary tract infections
- An enlarged prostate or prostate surgery in men
There are different types of incontinence:
- Stress incontinence, the most common type, is brought on by lifting, sneezing, coughing or other sudden stresses
- Urge incontinence is when someone has a very strong, sudden need to urinate and can't reach a toilet in time
- Overflow incontinence is when someone has trouble emptying their bladder and urine leaks out of the full bladder
- Functional incontinence is when someone with limited mobility can't reach a toilet in time
Health professionals can help older adults with incontinence.
Incontinence can often be helped by:
- Doing "pelvic floor" exercises to strengthen the muscles around the bladder
- Making regular trips to the toilet (for example, every two hours), rather than waiting for the need to go
- Switching medications or changing when they're taken
- Making lifestyle changes like losing weight, quitting smoking or avoiding caffeine
- Preventing constipation, which can make incontinence worse
