This article reviews recent literature regarding the incidence, causes, and treatment of urinary incontinence in elderly women. Data gathering was based upon a Medline search of the medical literature from 1987 to 1993. Studies that included fifty subjects or more and that were published in a physician-oriented journal were selected for inclusion. The findings indicate that urinary incontinence is a common problem among elderly women and one that can be easily evaluated and treated, at least initially, in any physician's office.