Incontinence is often times considered to be a woman's condition even though both sexes can experience it.
The fact of the matter is more women than men do experience it because incontinence in women is often the side effect of giving birth.
The whole process of pregnancy and then delivery of the child can wreck havoc on a woman's pelvic floor causing an immediate onset of incontinence or setting the stage for developing it later in life.
During pregnancy the uterus expands and can place pressure on the bladder and other organs and it is not unusual for pregnant women to experience stress incontinence.
A simple sneeze or a hearty laugh can be just enough pressure to cause a discharge of urine.
Normally, women who experience this type of incontinence will see it disappear after birth when the uterus returns to its original size.
But child birth is the real culprit when it comes to causing this condition.
The muscles in the pelvic floor support the bladder and other organs in the abdomen.
When these muscles are stretched or torn it weakens the support on the bladder making it more susceptible to stress incontinence.
In addition, the rigors of giving birth sometimes results in nerve damage which can cause the onset of urge incontinence or overactive bladder.
Women who required forceps in the delivery of their baby or who went through prolonged labor or who had an episiotomy are at much higher risk of developing some form of this condition than others.
Incontinence may not show up right away but with the damage done, age if nothing else, will further weaken the muscles so that it is almost inevitable that the condition will occur at some point in time.
Incontinence in women is not a natural part of the aging process and it can be treated and even cured.
If you are experiencing symptoms, see your doctor and get the therapy best suited for your condition.