Stigma for women

THE stigma around incontinence, especially among women, is preventing them from seeking help.

A survey of women who had experienced incontinence found 41% had chosen to use period pads or liners instead of specialised products, and over 24% have never used any products.

A YouGov study for period brand Natracare revealed that “73% of people assume only elderly women suffer with urinary incontinence”, when in fact one in three women experience incontinence at some point in their life, and at any age.

Sharna Waid from Natracare, said the real cause for concern was whether stigma is impacting on people’s recovery from the problem.

She said: “Research shows that 84% of women are cured of stress incontinence after six session of pelvic floor physiotherapy, and yet women wait on average seven years before seeking help.

“During our research we’ve found people are really willing to share their experiences so we hope to amplify their voices and help others seek support faster.”