Many women are ashamed to admit they have female incontinence, but the condition is common by the time women reach menopause, an expert has said.

Dr Nicole Gress, obstetrics and gynaecology physician at Silver Cross Hospital in the US, told the local Herald News that urinary incontinence is a "symptom" rather than a disease.

She revealed: "It can be produced by everyday habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems."

Women often self-manage their condition by wearing incontinence pads and taking a spare set of clothes when they go out.

However, Dr Gress revealed that there are also effective treatments for women with adult incontinence.

"Treatment for urinary incontinence depends on the type of incontinence, the severity of your problem and the underlying cause," she added.

Possible treatments include bladder training techniques, medication and surgery.

The latter option - which is available on the NHS - is usually only recommended after other less invasive treatments have failed to achieve a noticeable improvement in symptoms and reduced reliance on incontinence pads.