About bladder function
Bladder function is highly complex. It requires coordination from several parts of the brain and involves both involuntary and voluntary activity.
The urethral sphincter is made up of two parts each with a different function. The inner sphincter maintains a constant steady pressure, squeezing the urethra closed. The outer sphincter is made up of muscle, and it is this, along with the pelvic floor, that can be consciously squeezed when trying to prevent leakage.
Babies do not have this reflex and must learn it. It is capable of very strong contractions but only for a short period of time. The muscle can be fatigued and this is why a sneezing, coughing or any sort of exercise or lifting may cause involuntary leakage.
About incontinence
Urinary incontinence -- sometimes called "stress incontinence" -- is an inability to hold your urine until you get to a washroom. It can happen while coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercising, or putting pressure on the abdominal area.
Incontinence can lead to depression, social isolation, relationship trouble, lack of confidence, and an "unclean" feeling. Urinary incontinence is an inability to hold your urine until you get to a washroom.
Who has incontinence?
More than 20% of Canadian women experience some sort of incontinence. It is often temporary, and it sometimes could result from an underlying medical condition. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference. Older women, more often than younger women, experience incontinence. But incontinence is not inevitable with age. Incontinence is treatable and often curable at all ages.
What it means
If you experience incontinence, you may feel embarrassed. It may help you to remember that loss of bladder control can be treated. Try to overcome your embarrassment and see a doctor to learn if you need treatment for an underlying medical condition. Incontinence is a medical condition just as much as any other condition, which needs to be addressed.