Childbirth, infection, certain medications, and some illnesses are examples. Incontinence may go untreated because patients are embarrassed to mention it. Be sure to ask specifi cally about the problem.
Try the “some people” approach: “When some people cough or sneeze, they leak urine. Have you had this problem?” You may want to explain that incontinence can often be signifi cantly improved through bladder training; medication and surgery can also be effective treatments for certain types of incontinence.