Millions of women suffer in silence - urinary incontinence research - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Oct, 2002

A survey of more than 1,000 American women 18 and over conducted by HarrisInteractive for the National Association for Continence (NAFC) found significant misconceptions and low awareness about stress urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine brought on by abdominal "stress" or pressure as a result of laughing, coughing, sneezing, or physical activity. Very few women recognize stress incontinence as a legitimate medical condition, and about 80% mistakenly believe the symptoms are a normal part of aging.

"Involuntary urine leakage can strike women in the prime of their lives. Whether a woman is 30 or 60, she needs to be made aware of the fact that urine leakage is not normal. Urine leakage at any age is not acceptable," emphasizes Nancy Muller, NAFC executive director. "Unfortunately, because the onset of symptoms is often gradual, many women learn to adjust and only wait until their symptoms become truly unbearable before seeking any help."

One-quarter of those surveyed reported experiencing leakage symptoms in the past month. Other key findings were that women mistakenly indicated that having too much sex and drinking too much water can put them at risk for developing these symptoms; over half believe that stress incontinence symptoms affect only women over 50; 40% with the condition reported that they began experiencing symptoms before age 40; and one-third are not aware that the primary cause of stress incontinence is childbirth. Other causes include nerve and muscle damage, pelvic and abdominal surgery, and general loss of pelvic muscle tone. Additionally, obesity, smoking, menopause, constipation, and lung disease can contribute to or put a woman at risk for the onset of stress incontinence.