"What causes bladder control problems? Health changes and problems, including those with your nervous system, and lifestyle factors can cause or contribute to UI in women and men. Health changes and problems Health changes and problems that can lead to UI, include aging bladder infection constipation birth defects NIH external link blocked urinary tract—from a tumor or kidney stone chronic, or long-lasting, cough diabetes overweight or obesity genitourinary fistulas NIH external link Some health problems can be short-term, like a urinary tract infection or constipation, and can cause temporary incontinence. Nerve damage Problems with the nervous system are common causes of UI. Nerves carry messages from the bladder to the brain to let it know when the bladder is full. Nerves also carry messages from the brain to the bladder, telling muscles either to tighten or release. The brain decides if it’s an acceptable time to urinate. Functional incontinence can occur when there is a problem getting the messages from your brain to a part of your urinary tract—usually the bladder, the sphincters, or both. View full-sized imageThe central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, showing nerve signals travelling from the brain, through the spinal cord, to the bladder, urethra, and sphincter muscles. Nerves carry signals from your brain to your bladder and sphincter muscles. Bladder nerves and muscles can be damaged or affected by diabetes vaginal childbirth surgery for prostate cancer stroke Parkinson’s disease NIH external link multiple sclerosis NIH external link Alzheimer’s disease NIH external link brain or spinal cord injury anxiety NIH external link heavy metal poisoning Triggers that may cause a sudden, strong urge to urinate can include drinking or touching water, hearing running water, or being in a cold environment, such as reaching into the freezer at the grocery store. Lifestyle factors Lifestyle factors that make women and men more likely to experience UI include eating habits, such as eating foods that cause constipation drinking habits, such as drinking alcohol or caffeinated or carbonated beverages certain medicines physical inactivity smoking Temporary incontinence is usually a side effect of a medicine or short-term health condition. Temporary incontinence can also be a result of eating and drinking habits, including using alcohol or caffeine. What else causes bladder control problems in women? Certain life events and health problems can lead to stress incontinence in women by weakening the pelvic floor muscles pregnancy and childbirth trauma or injury, such as sexual assault pelvic organ prolapse NIH external link, such as a cystocele menopause NIH external link Weak pelvic floor muscles can make it hard for your bladder to hold urine in during stress incontinence. Stress incontinence occurs when an action—coughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activity—puts pressure on your bladder and causes urine to leak. A weak pelvic floor can also cause fecal incontinence, or bowel control problems. Close-up illustration of a female bladder, ureters, pelvic floor muscles, and urethra. Weak pelvic floor muscles can allow your bladder to leak. What else causes bladder control problems in men? Men sometimes develop UI along with prostate problems. Prostate problems Men have a prostate gland that surrounds the opening of the bladder. The prostate gets bigger as a man grows older. When a man’s prostate gets too big but isn’t cancerous, he has a condition called prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Men with an enlarged prostate may have problems starting to urinate a slow urine stream problems fully emptying the bladder Treatment for BPH can lead to stress incontinence, but it is usually temporary. Men who have a history of radiation NIH external link or surgery for prostate cancer NIH external link may have short-term or long-term UI. Surgery NIH external link, radiation, or other prostate cancer treatments can lead to nerve damage, bladder spasms, or stress incontinence. Bladder control problems after prostate cancer treatment can get better over time. Close-up illustration of a male urinary tract, including the bladder, ureters, pelvic floor muscles, and urethra, and showing the prostate. When the prostate gets too big it can squeeze the urethra, making it hard to start urinating. You also may have a slow urine stream or be unable to completely empty your bladder."