Let’s start by reviewing how urinary control, also called urinary continence, normally works.
Urine is produced in the kidneys and passes through the ureters to the bladder. As the bladder fills, it expands and the muscles around it stay relaxed. The sphincter keeps the opening at the bottom of the bladder tightly closed. The thick, spongy walls of the urethra help form a watertight seal when compressed by the sphincter.
The sphincter, bladder, bladder neck, and urethra must be in the proper position to work effectively. They are held in place by the pelvic muscles and other support structures.
When you urinate, the bladder contracts and the sphincter relaxes. This forces the urine out of the bladder, through the urethra, and out of the body.
