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Urinary Incontinence - The Science
10/29/2025

This study analyzed data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to determine how common urinary incontinence (UI) is among U.S. women and what factors increase the risk.

Researchers found that 61.8% of U.S. women aged 20 and older reported some degree of urinary incontinence, meaning leakage of urine during everyday activities or urgency. About 22% described their symptoms as moderate to severe, showing that UI is both widespread and often bothersome.

When broken down by type:

  • 38% had stress incontinence (leakage with coughing, sneezing, or exertion),
  • 22% had urgency incontinence (leakage with a sudden urge to urinate), and
  • 31% had mixed incontinence (features of both).

The likelihood of incontinence increased with age, higher body mass index (BMI), greater number of births, and vaginal (vs. cesarean) delivery. The study also noted racial and ethnic differences: White women reported UI most often, followed by Hispanic and Black women, though the authors note possible underreporting or cultural differences in symptom disclosure.

Importantly, the authors emphasized that UI is not just an “older woman’s” issue—it can affect women of all ages, and risk rises gradually across adulthood. They also highlighted how UI affects quality of life, sleep, and mental health, but remains underdiagnosed and undertreated due to stigma or normalization of symptoms.

In short:

  • About 6 in 10 U.S. women experience urinary incontinence.
  • It increases with age, childbirth, and weight.
  • Stress incontinence is most common.
  • Despite being widespread, UI is often ignored or untreated even though it has a measurable impact on women’s daily lives.