In the realm of women’s health, despite the modern message to be bold and speak out, certain topics that affect millions of lives are still being hushed and tip-toed around. Urinary incontinence is one such issue—a condition often suffered in silence. Even though its prevalence is staggering, impacting women of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life, incontinence is often whispered about, if at all.
Due to this lack of open dialogue, the public has limited accurate knowledge about the condition, creating a deeply stigmatised reputation. The repercussions of urinary incontinence extend far beyond physical discomfort. The stigma and shame associated with incontinence only make it harder for people to seek treatment and can cause severe psychosocial suffering on top of the daily struggles of the condition.
Many individuals with incontinence will go to great lengths to keep their condition a secret if they are able. Others may be subjected to gossip, prejudice, and other forms of social exclusion and shaming. The negativity and ignorance associated with incontinence can erode self-esteem, causing people to withdraw from social gatherings, work, and even intimate relationships.
Therefore, it’s crucial to break the silence, debunk the myths, and shed light on the truth about the condition and how to treat it.
First, what are the facts about urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine and can manifest in various forms, including stress incontinence (leaking small amounts of urine during activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, walking, lifting, etc), urge incontinence (involuntary, sudden, intense urge to urinate), and mixed incontinence (a combination of both). Urinary incontinence isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a medical condition that can profoundly affect a person’s quality of life.
What are the common signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence?
- Leaking when sneezing, coughing, or laughing
- Leaking when playing sports, exercising, or heavy lifting
- Leaking when standing up
- Rushing to use the toilet
- Leaking before reaching the toilet
- Losing complete bladder control before reaching the toilet
- Frequent worry about leaking and losing bladder control
- Multiple use of the toilet during the night
- Frequent need to determine where the nearest toilet is
- Frequently need to plan to use the toilet before feeling the urge
- Difficulty completely emptying the bladder
5 Myths About Urinary Incontinence
1. Urinary incontinence after childbirth is unavoidable
Truth: False. Not all mothers face incontinence after giving birth, and there are ways to minimise this risk. Although many women experience postpartum incontinence, various contributing factors come into play when we consider why childbirth leads to incontinence, including genetics, age, body weight, medications, diet and lifestyle. Pregnancy and childbirth indeed cause major changes to the body, which impact the pelvic floor, bladder and urethra; however, by implementing preventative strategies, the likelihood of developing postpartum incontinence can be reduced.
2. Urinary incontinence is a normal, inevitable part of old age
Truth: Contrary to common misconception, urinary incontinence isn’t inevitable; not all seniors are incontinent. While weakening tissue and reduced muscle tone can contribute to developing urinary incontinence for some, “aging” does not mean that incontinence will occur consequently, nor should it be accepted as “normal,” as there are many ways to reduce the risk of developing the condition.
3. Urinary incontinence only affects the elderly and women who give birth
Truth: This is not true. Incontinence can present itself in children, young men and young women who have never been pregnant. It has been reported that over half of the women in Australia who experience incontinence are under the age of 50¹.
4. Urinary incontinence cannot be treated or prevented
Truth: Unfortunately, this myth, in combination with the stigma against the condition, has contributed to the majority of Australians with incontinence not seeking help from a health professional². There are, in fact, many options available to help prevent, treat and manage incontinence.
5. Leaking from laughing, coughing, and sneezing is normal
Truth: Unexpected loss of control over your bladder is not normal, even if you have experienced this type of incontinence throughout your whole life. Bladder leaks are not something you just have to put up with. Additionally, frequent use of the toilet before feeling the urge and restricting your fluid intake will not fix the problem but may actually make your problems worse! It’s vital to seek treatment as early as possible, regardless of how subtle you believe your incontinence symptoms are, to try and mitigate the risk of the condition worsening.
Seeking Support and Treatment
The Answer: The first step towards addressing urinary incontinence is breaking the silence and seeking support. Women shouldn’t hesitate to discuss their symptoms with healthcare providers, as various lifestyle changes and treatment options are available to help manage and alleviate symptoms.
One simple and accessible treatment option for women to help prevent and treat urinary incontinence is pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegels, which involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles.
The Challenge: Unfortunately, because of the stigma and lack of open dialogue around incontinence, many women grow up unaware of the location, function, and sensation of their pelvic floor muscles. This can make it very difficult to seek treatment and to know how to activate and exercise these muscles.
The Solution: The Emy is a Kegel biofeedback training device designed to help with targeted pelvic floor exercises. It can assist those who struggle to feel the sensation of their pelvic floor and find it challenging to activate and contract these muscles.
It’s recommended to first seek advice from a medical professional before using the Emy; however, the device does not require a referral or prescription and can be used from the privacy of your own home.
Main Indications for the Emy
Improve bladder control
Regular pelvic floor training can significantly reduce or eliminate bladder incontinence in adult women of all ages. It can also be used as a preventative strategy against developing incontinence while minimising the risk of organ prolapse.
Assist postpartum recovery and tone
The Emy not only supports pelvic floor recovery and basic muscle tone after giving birth but can also help strengthen the pelvic floor before conception to prepare the body for pregnancy and childbirth.
During pregnancy, simply carrying the weight of the baby can weaken the pelvic floor muscles, so it’s important to train them even after a C-section.
Target intimate well-being
Strengthening the pelvic floor with the Emy can help women address their intimate well-being by tightening the muscles and walls of their vagina, which can lead to increased intensity of vaginal contractions and pleasure during sex.
Breaking the Stigma and Empowering Women to Take Control
Empowerment lies with accurate knowledge and opportunity. Urinary incontinence is not a topic to be whispered about in hushed tones; it’s a reality that millions of women face every day.
By breaking the silence and opening discussions about incontinence and other taboo topics, we can initiate meaningful conversations that challenge stigmas and debunk myths to help women gain accurate information to build a greater understanding of the condition.
By encouraging women to open up within a supportive environment, we help give them the opportunity to feel comfortable discussing their symptoms, seeking help, and exploring treatment options. This will ultimately empower them to regain control over their health and reclaim their lives.
It’s time to embrace openness and compassion when addressing urinary incontinence! Together, we can create a world where women have the strength to seek help, receive the support they deserve, and live their lives to the fullest.
For more information on Pelvic Floor training and Kegel Biofeedback tools for postpartum Incontinence, please click here.
References:
¹Deloitte Access Economics. The economic impact of incontinence in Australia. The Continence Foundation of Australia; 2011.
²A report by the Continence Foundation of Australia. (2019). Available at: https://www.continence.org.au/sites/default/files/continence_in_australia_snapshot_1.pdf.