Overview

If you have urge incontinence, you may feel a sudden urge to urinate and the need to urinate often. The urge is so strong that you can't reach the toilet in time. With this bladder problem, you may leak a large amount of urine that can soak your clothes or run down your legs.

Urge incontinence is caused by bladder muscles that squeeze so hard that the sphincter muscle can't hold back the urine. It may be caused by urinary tract infections, constipation, infections of the prostate gland, kidney or bladder stones, blockage from prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or brain conditions such as Parkinson's disease or stroke.

Bladder training is used to treat urge incontinence by slowly increasing how long you wait to urinate after you get the urge to go. Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegels) may also help. They strengthen the muscles that control the flow of urine. Treatment may also include medicines or surgery.