Why so many more women?

During childbirth pushing a baby through the birth canal places all sorts of stretching pressures on most of the pelvic organs. Some women seem to be able to withstand this stretching better than others.

The damage of childbirth can be worsened by such things as long term coughing or sneezing, constipation and increased body mass. In addition, menopause, with its decreasing hormone levels can also contribute to incontinence.

Some other common causes for women include:

• Urinary tract and bladder infections, constipation and medication side-effects are some of the most readily treated causes of short-term incontinence. Following a visit to your doctor, relief is usually quick.
• Surgical procedures can sometimes cause long-term incontinence. Recovery from these causes may affect the rate at which continence is restored.
• Birth defects, progressive illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic conditions may require ongoing management of the related symptom of incontinence.

It’s important to understand that incontinence is not an inevitable part of aging, nor is it necessary to accept long-term incontinence after bearing a child. In many cases, it can be cured, and it can always be managed