Estrogen controls how your body matures, your monthly periods, and body changes during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Estrogen also helps keep the lining of the bladder and the urethra plump and healthy. Lack of estrogen causes the bladder control muscles to become weak.

Your doctor may give you medicine to replace estrogen to prevent future bladder control problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you or your family has a history of cancer. If you face a high risk of cancer of the uterus or breast, the doctor may not prescribe estrogen. 

Pressure from coughing, sneezing, or lifting can push urine through the weakened muscle. This kind of leakage is called stress incontinence, and it is one of the most common kinds of bladder control problems in older women. Another bladder control problem for older women is urge incontinence, when the bladder muscles squeeze at the wrong time - or all the time - and cause leaks. If you have this problem, your health care team can help you retrain yourself to visit the toilet on a schedule. Good bladder control allows women to lead a fully active life. More information: www.minniepauz.com/guestarticles.html