Why can't women hold their urine?

Women's inability to hold urine may be caused by aging, pregnancy, cystitis, overactive bladder, urethritis, etc., and can be improved according to different situations. It is recommended to visit a hospital promptly and receive treatment under a doctor's guidance.

1. Aging: After menopause in women, declining estrogen levels lead to atrophy and thinning of the urethral mucosa, weakened function of the urethral sphincter muscles, and reduced urinary control, resulting in an inability to hold urine. Regular pelvic floor muscle training, such as Kegel exercises, can help. Perform three sets daily, each consisting of contracting the pelvic floor muscles for 3-5 seconds followed by relaxation, repeating 10-15 times per set, to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and improve urinary control.

2. Pregnancy: During pregnancy, as the fetus develops, the growing uterus compresses the bladder, reducing its capacity, which leads to an inability to hold urine, particularly noticeable in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. This is a common physiological phenomenon during pregnancy. Pregnant women can manage this by drinking small amounts frequently, reducing single water intakes, avoiding excessive water consumption before bedtime, and urinating at regular intervals during the day to reduce bladder pressure and alleviate the inability to hold urine.

3. Cystitis: Bacterial infection of the bladder causes inflammation, irritating the bladder mucosa, increasing bladder sensitivity, resulting in frequent urination, urgency, inability to hold urine, accompanied by symptoms such as painful urination and lower abdominal pain. Under a doctor's guidance, patients may take medications such as levofloxacin tablets, Sanjin tablets, and sodium bicarbonate tablets to fight infection and relieve symptoms.

4. Overactive Bladder: Unstable detrusor muscles in the bladder cause frequent contractions, leading to urgency and inability to hold urine, often accompanied by increased urinary frequency, significantly affecting quality of life; the exact cause remains unclear. It is recommended to use medications like tolterodine tartrate tablets, solifenacin succinate tablets, and mirabegron extended-release tablets under medical guidance to inhibit excessive bladder contractions and improve symptoms.

5. Urethritis: Unprotected sexual activity and poor local hygiene allow pathogens to invade the urethra, causing inflammation. Inflammation irritates the urethral mucosa, leading to urgency and inability to hold urine, accompanied by symptoms such as burning sensation and pain during urination. Follow medical advice to use medications like amoxicillin capsules, nitrofurantoin enteric-coated tablets, and compound shiwei tablets to alleviate discomfort.

In daily life, it is recommended to moderately control water intake, avoid drinking large amounts at once, and also pay attention to diverting attention to avoid excessive focus on the need to urinate.

References:

[1] Liu Xiaofeng, Kuang Meiqin, Liu Pei, et al. Clinical Observation of Zhongyang Yishen Zhenyang Decoction in Treating Overactive Bladder After Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Surgery[J]. Guangming Chinese Medicine, 2025, 40(03):443-446.

[2] Pang Jianyi, Dai Limei. Clinical Value of Transurethral Bladder Mucosal Resection Combined with Bladder Neck Resection in Treating Cystitis Glandularis in Women[J]. Chinese Journal of Health Care and Rehabilitation, 2024, 42(15):44-47.