Sometimes the bladder doesn’t work the way it should and doesn’t drain the urine (pee) ​properly.

Even though the bladder doesn't drain properly, the kidneys will still produce urine and will keep filling the bladder. This means that the urine builds up faster in the bladder, causing more frequency (needing to go more often) and urgency (needing to go right away). The urine can also overflow and cause urinary incontinence (leakage).​

Why does this happen?​

• ​The bladder muscle (detrusor) is not working well. This can happen for many reasons such as injuries, diseases, genetics, surgery, or medicines that you take.
• Nerves that signal the bladder may not be working right. Some causes are damage to the nerves, or health conditions like diabetes or multiple sclerosis.
• Something is blocking the urethra, the tube that leads out of the bladder. This could be swelling or prolapse (an organ or part of the body that has slipped down).​​