Ten to 30 million Americans currently suffer from some sort of incontinence, and the causes are highly variable. Three of the highest risk groups are:

• The elderly, especially senior women. People over the age of 55 have the greatest risk of developing urinary incontinence due to the aging of the bladder muscles. A weakened bladder decreases its capacity, and results in its overactivity. Furthermore, estrogen production drops in post-menopausal women, thereby weakening the urethral tissues that control urine flow.

• People suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Spina Bifida, or other injuries and diseases that cause nerve or muscle damage. In this case, either voluntary control of urination is lost, resulting in urge or reflex incontinence, or the ability to get to the bathroom in time is jeopardized, resulting in functional incontinence.

• Pregnant women, or women that have recently given birth. A pregnancy places strain on the pelvic floor muscles, as well as the muscles near the urethra, resulting in stress incontinence whenever pressure is placed on the bladder. The birthing process itself may permanently push down your bladder, rectum, and other organs so that they protrude into the vagina and contribute to incontinence.