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Urinary Incontinence: It's No Laughing Matter

WHAT IS URINARY INCONTINENCE?

Urinary Incontinence, also known as bladder leakage, is the loss of bladder control or the involuntary loss of urine. This can turn a laughing fit or fun workout into a stressful and potentially uncomfortable situation. Here’s the skinny on the three common types of Urinary Incontinence:

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress Urinary Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine during physical activities, like laughing, jumping, sneezing or lifting heavy objects. It occurs when the muscles that support the urethra are weakened or damaged. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Childbirth
  • Trauma
  • Hormone Changes
  • And Many More

Urge Urinary Incontinence

Urge Urinary Incontinence is the unintended loss of urine due to an involuntary bladder contraction. Patients often describe Urge Urinary Incontinence as needing to go even if they just went. It’s often associated with an overactive bladder.

Mixed Urinary Incontinence

Mixed Urinary Incontinence is involuntary bladder leakage associated with a combination of both Urge and Stress Urinary Incontinence.

  

Bladder Leakage Webinar

Did you know that fewer than 50% of women who leak urine discuss their symptoms with their health care provider?1 In this free on-demand webinar, urogynecologist Dr. Elizabeth Williams discusses the most common types of bladder leakage and treatment options.

Depending on the severity, Urinary Incontinence can be treated several ways. Before you go below the belt, talk with your doctor to determine which treatment is right for you.

WHO SUFFERS FROM URINARY INCONTINENCE?

Urinary Incontinence affects more people than you might think. And it’s increasingly common among women. The important thing to remember is you’re not alone. There are millions of women out there just like you who experience some form of bladder leakage. But you don’t have to be one of them. Talk to your doctor today.

1 in 2 adult women have urinary incontinence1

On average, women wait 6.5 years after having symptoms to see a doctor2

Less than 50% of women with UI discuss their symptoms with their doctor3


It’s only when I laugh, or cough or sneeze... if you’re experiencing common symptoms of Urinary Incontinence, talk to your doctor today.

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Not sure if you have Urinary Incontinence?

Take this short quiz to see if you might have Urinary Incontinence and share your results with your physician.

Take the Quiz
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Speak up for a stronger you.

Ready to talk to a physician? There are many specialists who focus on pelvic floor disorders. You can search by name, state or zip code to find the right one for you.

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"One vacation we had gone to Tennessee and the kids, they did mountain biking and horseback riding, and I stayed behind because there’s no restroom there."

 

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"Going forward I have this peace of mind."

 

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Read Important Information Here

1. Markland AD, Richter HE, Fwu C-W, Eggers P, Kusek JW. Prevalence and Trends of Urinary Incontinence in Adults in the United States, 2001 to 2008. The Journal of Urology.2011;186(2):589-593. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2011.03.114.
2. Urology Care Foundation. Loss of Bladder Control: It’s Not Just a “Female Problem.” http://www.urologyhealth.org/Documents/Product%20Store/Loss-of-Bladder-Control-Poster.pdf. Accessed September 2, 2020.
3. Kinchen KS, Burgio K, Diokno AC, et al. Factors associated with women’s decisions to seek treatment for urinary incontinence. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2003 Sep;12(7):687-98.