Urinary incontinence means the bladder is unable to hold urine for as long as needed, that is, until it can be released voluntarily.  Incontinence is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of some other problem. In this episode of Second Opinion, you'll learn about different types of incontinence, their causes, how they're diagnosed and how they're treated.

The urinary tract consists of the organs that produce and eliminate urine (liquid waste) from the body: the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra (links to glossary).

Urine is made by the kidneys (a pair of bean shaped organs in the back of the abdomen) when they filter excess water, salt and waste products from the blood.  Urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters (a pair of thin tubes) to the bladder, where it is stored until a person urinates.  The bladder is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ located in the pelvis. Urine leaves the body by passing from the bladder through another tube, the urethra, which is open at one end.  In men, the opening is at the tip of the penis; in women, it's just above the vagina.

During urination, sphincter muscles that surround the urethra relax, while muscles in the wall of the bladder contract.  This muscular action forces urine into the urethra. The pelvic floor muscles, located below the bladder, aid the sphincter muscles by supporting the bladder and helping it release or hold urine.

The process of urination is controlled by communication between the urinary tract and the brain. The bladder sends messages along nerves to the brain, telling the brain that the bladder is full.  The brain responds with messages sent along the same nerves, telling the muscles of the bladder to relax and retain the urine, or contract and let it go.

Clearly, the urinary system is complex.  A problem anywhere in the system - a blockage in one of the tubes, a problem with the message carrying nerves - can cause incontinence.  That is why there are several types of incontinence, with a variety of causes - and why it is important to take incontinence seriously.

Despite what many people think, aging alone is not one of those causes. Incontinence is not a normal result of aging.