You told us that you are . In general, incontinence is more
common in older women. But it can happen at any age. Stress incontinence is more
common in women younger than 50. Urge and mixed incontinence are more common in
women older than 65. The risk for urinary incontinence rises with age, but it’s not
something every person gets as they age.

You told us that you are Caucasian. Several studies have found that
Caucasian women are about twice as likely to have any type of incontinence compared
with African-American and Asian women.

You told us that you have a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) with
urinary incontinence. This makes it 2 to 3 times more likely that you will develop
stress incontinence.

You told us that you have given birth. Pregnancy and birth are risk
factors for developing urinary incontinence. This is especially true for stress
incontinence. Vaginal delivery raises your risk by about 2 times, compared with a
woman who hasn’t given birth. Pregnancy itself also adds a greater risk of
developing urinary incontinence. Women who give birth by cesarean section have a
slightly higher risk of developing urinary incontinence than women who haven’t given
birth. This risk is not as high as for those who give birth vaginally. The first
baby born raises the risk the most. Studies have not found that twins or other
multiples pose a higher risk than a single birth. After age 65, the risk from
pregnancy and birth becomes less important risk factors. This is because chronic
illness affects incontinence more that birth history. Some women have leakage during
pregnancy. This temporary incontinence raises the risk for incontinence later in
life.

Your weight and height show that you have a BMI > 25. Carrying
extra pounds puts you at risk for stress urinary incontinence. This is especially
true if your extra weight is around your belly. The good news is that losing just a
few pounds can have a big impact on your risk. For example, going from 200 pounds to
190 pounds can cut your risk. Talk with your healthcare provider for help with
losing weight.

You told us that you have diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes
can raise your risk for urge and mixed urinary incontinence. Keeping your diabetes
under control lowers your risk. Talk with your healthcare provider if you need help
managing your diabetes.

You told us you have a chronic cough or COPD. COPD stands for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD and chronic cough are both important
risk factors for stress urinary incontinence. This is probably because coughing put
extra pressure on you belly. Talk with your healthcare provider to find out ways to
control your chronic cough.

You told us you are smoker or have smoked in the past. Smoking may
raise your risk for urinary incontinence, but researchers aren’t sure. One study
showed that people who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day are at higher risk.
Smoking does make it more likely to develop a chronic cough or COPD. Both of these
are definite risk factors for stress urinary incontinence. Smoking is bad for your
health in other ways. Talk with your healthcare provider about programs that can
help you quit.

You told us that you have difficulty moving quickly. You may have a
history of falls, pain because of arthritis in your legs, or difficulty standing
from a sitting position. Problems or pain with movement can make urge incontinence
worse. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you can improve your mobility or
better control your pain.

You told us that you have taken or are taking pills for hormone
therapy (HT). Taking the hormone estrogen or estrogen plus progestin pills for a
least a year raises the risk of developing urinary incontinence. Talk with your care
provider about the risks for urinary incontinence tied to HT.

General: In addition to the above risk factors, many foods and
medicines may also raise your risk of developing urinary incontinence or make an
incontinence problem worse. These include caffeinated beverages such as soda, tea,
and coffee, and prescribed water pills (diuretics). Anticholinergic medicines may
raise the risk because they may keep the bladder from emptying fully. They may also
cause constipation. ACE inhibitors may bring on stress urinary incontinence by
causing a cough. If you are taking these medicines, talk with your healthcare
provider about their effect on incontinence.