bladder changes as women get older

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Your Bladder Isn't Completely Under Your Control Anymore

What you know: Childbearing can do a number on your bladder, and much older women often have issues with incontinence.

What might surprise you: Even if you Kegel like it's your job, you may have problems in your 40s, because with less estrogen, the bladder muscle and the muscles that support the urethra get weaker, leaving you more vulnerable to leaks. (Oh, the joys of being a woman, right?)

What you can do about it: Luckily, there are a handful of very effective fixes for incontinence, both the stress variety (leaking when you exercise or laugh) and the urge kind (you can't get the bathroom fast enough), and we've outlined all of them here.