What Causes a Leaking Bladder?

A leaking bladder may be caused by many different things, including prostate problems and weak pelvic floor muscles, which both tend to be side effects of aging. Pregnancy might also cause a leaking bladder, particularly during the last trimester when there is a lot of weight from the baby pressing down on the bladder. Many women have problems with bladder leakage after pregnancy as well because of the extreme strain of pushing babies out, which tends to weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Regardless of the cause of a leaking bladder, there are many things that can be done to correct the problem. It is typically considered wise to consult a doctor before attempting to treat bladder leakage so that any serious problems may be ruled out.

Aging tends to cause problems with bladder leakage for both men and women. Men often experience prostate problems as they age, such as prostate enlargement and occasionally prostate cancer. Sometimes the prostate swells up when these problems are experienced and puts pressure on the bladder, making it harder to control urination. Menopausal women also tend to experience bladder leakage, which often results when the wall that separates the vagina and the bladder begins to thin out with age. The pelvic floor muscles might also weaken in most women as they get older, making bladder leakage much more likely to occur.

Problems with a leaking bladder and pregnancy are also often related. The weight of the fetus may put a lot of extra strain on the bladder, which might make a woman feel the urge to urinate much more frequently, and she might also have a difficult time holding her urine until she reaches a bathroom because of the weight on her bladder. This extra weight could additionally weaken the pelvic floor muscles over time, which tends to occur during the strain of childbirth. There are many women who stop having problems with bladder leakage immediately after delivering their babies, but some women continue to have problems for several months after delivering.

A leaking bladder that resulted from weakened pelvic floor muscles can typically be corrected by doing pelvic floor exercises, which are also called kegel exercises. Doctors often advise women with weakened pelvic floor muscles to contract those muscles several times a day for a few weeks until they notice an improvement in their symptoms. Men who experience bladder leakage due to prostate problems might continue to have problems until their prostate issues are addressed and treated.