Women are most likely to develop incontinence during pregnancy, childbirth or after hormonal changes that occur with menopause. Women living with incontinence often find themselves scouting out the nearest restroom for fear of having an accident in public or avoiding social engagements because they feel anxiety about odor or appearance problems, even with a protective under garment.



Women who change sexual partners or begin having sexual intercourse more frequently may experience bladder or urinary tract infections more often than women in monogamous relationships. Women who perform high-impact exercise are susceptible to urinary leakage, particularly those with a low foot arch, which, on impact, increases the shock to the pelvic area.

In most instances, bladder symptoms can be controlled successfully using strategies that include appropriate medication, management techniques, and self-help. A bladder management program allows you to empty your bladder in an acceptable manner when it it is convenient for you. Only you and you doctor can decide which bladder management program works best for you. If you drink the recommended amounts of fluid and use ICP for your bladder management, you should empty your bladder at least every 3 to 4 hours during the times you are awake. The goals of bladder management are: To preserve normal urinary tract

function and prevent potentially dangerous complications.

Cancers confined to the inner lining of the bladder are called "superficial" and comprise 80% of all bladder cancers. Cancers that have spread into the bladder wall are called "deep" bladder cancers and those that have spread to lymph nodes and/or distantly to lungs, liver or other organs are referred to as "metastatic. The grade of the cancer is probably the single most important predictor of prognosis for superficial bladder cancers. While the exact causes of all bladder cancers are unknown, certain exposures are strongly linked to its development-certainly smoking has been found to be a significant

risk factor, as well as exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, most bladder cancers are not diagnosed until they have become very large.

Invasive cancers can spread through the bladder wall into nearby organs such as the prostate gland in men, the vagina in women, the bowel, or lymph nodes. Bladder cancer is more common among men than women and more common among whites than blacks. In women, the cancer may have spread to the womb, ovaries, and other parts of the reproductive system. For example, women who have been treated with radiotherapy for uterine or ovarian cancer have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer than women who just have surgery. In men, because the bladder is located near the prostate, the doctor will insert a finger in the male's rectum to feel the bladder, while in women, the examination is performed through the vagina because the bladder is located in the womb.

However, bladder cancer is overall considered one of the more surviveable cancers, with more than half of both men and women alive five years after diagnosis.