Urinary incontinence or UI is a condition where urine leaks by accident. There are two types of UI that are common in women, depending on the symptoms: Stress incontinence: You are unable to "hold" urine when coughing, sneezing, exercising, or lifting something. The result is leaking or wetting. Urgency incontinence: You often have a strong urge to urinate and cannot make it to the bathroom before your urine leaks. A similar problem is called "overactive bladder," when you have a sudden strong urge to urinate, or you have to urinate often. You are able to hold your urine, however, with overactive bladder. Some women have both kinds of incontinence. Doctors call this "mixed incontinence." Urinary incontinence (UI) is the involuntary loss of urine. About 25 percent of young women, 44 to 57 percent of middle-aged and postmenopausal women, and about 75 percent of older women experience some involuntary urine loss. UI can affect women's physical, psychological, and social well-being, and sometimes imposes significant lifestyle restrictions. The effects of UI range from slightly bothersome to debilitating. The information in this summary is from a report that reviewed 905 studies between January 1990 and December 2011 on treatments without surgery for urinary incontinence. You can use the information from research to understand what is known about the possible benefits and side effects of each treatment option. This information will help you talk with your doctor about what option may be best for you."