When Your Bladder Can’t Take the Pressure

MedEvidence Articles

MedEvidence Articles
When Your Bladder Can’t Take the Pressure
Aug 31, 2026
Benton Lowey-Ball

In this week's episode, we look at the prevalence, pathophysiology, and progress towards a solution to urinary incontinence. We review what urinary incontinence is, look at the different types of incontinence, and explore what happens in the body that makes it tough to prevent leakage. Then we finish by looking at treatment options for those who suffer with the condition.


References:

Aoki Y, Brown HW, Brubaker L, Cornu JN, Daly JO, Cartwright R. Urinary incontinence in women. Nature reviews Disease primers. 2017 Jul 6;3(1):17042. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.42

Marieb EN, Hoehn K. Human anatomy & physiology. [11th Edition]. [Hoboken, New Jersey]: Pearson; [2019]. p. 1003-1007

Pan J, Liang E, Cai Q, Zhang D, Wang J, Feng Y, Yang X, Yang Y, Tian W, Quan C, Han R. Progress in studies on pathological changes and future treatment strategies of obesity-associated female stress urinary incontinence: a narrative review. Translational andrology and urology. 2021 Jan;10(1):494. https://tau.amegroups.org/article/view/60334/html

Long T, Cheng B, Zhang K. Abdominal obesity as assessed by anthropometric measures associates with urinary incontinence in females: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2018. BMC women's health. 2024 Apr 2;24(1):212. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03059-2

Wing RR, Creasman JM, West DS, Richter HE, Myers D, Burgio KL, Franklin F, Gorin AA, Vittinghoff E, Macer J, Kusek JW. Improving urinary incontinence in overweight and obese women through modest weight loss. Obstetrics and gynecology. 2010 Aug;116(2 Pt 1):284. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181e8fb60

Subak LL, Wing R, West DS, Franklin F, Vittinghoff E, Creasman JM, Richter HE, Myers D, Burgio KL, Gorin AA, Macer J. Weight loss to treat urinary incontinence in overweight and obese women. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009 Jan 29;360(5):481-90. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0806375

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