<I>Stress incontinence</I> occurs when urine flows out of the body uncontrollably when a person bears down for example, when a person coughs, sneezes or lifts heavy objects. When a person bears down, pressure is exerted on the bladder, which pushes urine through the urethra. With stress incontinence, the sphincters, including the muscles around the urethra and the pelvic muscles, are weak and are unable to clamp down on the urethra. When the urethra is unable to stop the urine, some urine leaks out.