Fellowship-Trained Urogynecologist
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Green Bay, Wisconsin
✓ Medically reviewed May 14, 2026
Is incontinence a normal part of aging?
No. This is one of the most common myths about bladder leaking, and it keeps many women from getting help. Bladder control problems do become more common as you get older, but incontinence is not a normal part of aging. It is a medical condition with real causes and treatments that work at any age.
Why this myth persists
The confusion makes sense. Incontinence is more common in older women. Several changes that happen with age can play a role:
- Lower estrogen levels thin the tissue around your urethra and vagina
- Muscle mass naturally decreases, including in the pelvic floor
- Chronic health conditions become more common
- Medications for other conditions can affect bladder function
These are risk factors, not guaranteed outcomes. Many women live into their 80s and 90s without leaking. Some women in their 20s have bothersome incontinence.
Up to 75% of women with incontinence never seek care. The stigma around bladder leaking has been rated higher than that of depression or a cancer diagnosis. I have treated women in their 70s and 80s who are now dry and active. Age is never a reason to accept leaking.
What happens when you accept it
When women believe leaking is just part of getting older, they stop asking for help. The effects go well beyond wet pads:
- Social isolation from avoiding outings, travel, and time with others
- Less physical activity, which speeds up other age-related health decline
- Higher fall risk from rushing to the bathroom at night
- Depression and anxiety from loss of independence
- Skin irritation and infections from constant moisture
Treatment works at every age
A study of over 13,000 Medicare patients (age 66 and older) found that pelvic floor therapy, pessaries, and sling surgery all produced lasting results. Older women are not too old for treatment.
Here are your options, and we can talk through what fits your life:
- Pelvic floor physical therapy, which goes beyond Kegels to include strength, coordination, relaxation, breathing, and work on the hips, core, and surrounding muscles. Our practice has in-office pelvic floor PTs.
- Vaginal estrogen, which restores tissue health safely and does not raise breast or uterine cancer risk
- Medications for overactive bladder, chosen carefully to avoid drugs that affect memory in older women
- Minimally invasive procedures like Botox (lasts 6-9 months), sacral neuromodulation (battery lasts 10-15 years), urethral bulking for stress leaking (lasts 7+ years), or a bladder sling
I never let age alone determine what treatments we talk about. What matters is your overall health, your goals, and what is affecting your daily life.
References
- Lukacz ES, Santiago-Lastra Y, Albo ME, Brubaker L. Urinary incontinence in women: a review. JAMA. 2017. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.12137
- Sanses TVD, Zillioux J, High RA, et al. Evidence-informed action plan to advance OAB research and treatment. Urogynecology. 2023. doi:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001274
- Hall EF, Biller DH, Buss JL, et al. Medium-term outcomes of conservative and surgical treatments for SUI: a Medicare claims analysis. Urogynecology. 2023. doi:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001362
- Dengler KL, High RA, Moga DC, et al. OAB and cognitive impairment: AUGS SOS conference summary. Urogynecology. 2023. doi:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001272
- ACOG/AUGS. Urinary incontinence in women (Practice Bulletin No. 155). Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2015. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001148
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