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