Bladder Control |
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Conditions and Treatments
Millions of Americans live with the often uncomfortable and humiliating condition of incontinence rather than seek medial treatment.
Generally, your bladder should empty every three to six hours or four to six times in 24 hours. The average bladder capacity is 10 to 20 ounces, though this decreases a bit with age. Most adults feel a signal to urinate when the bladder is about half full or more. After that first signal, the sensation subsides temporarily. As the bladder gets fuller, the signal returns and gets stronger and more frequent, but still subsides if urination is delayed.
There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence. These include:
- Changes in the body after childbirth or surgery
- Diabetes
- Nerve damage to the bladder
- Obesity
- Overactivity of the bladder
- Severe constipation
- Side effects of medications
- Urinary tract infection
- Weakened pelvic floor muscles called prolapse
Bladder incontinence in women is typically treated as one of four conditions:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated November 5, 2007
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