Building Confidence When Leaks Happen

Face the world confidently, despite LBL. 

Over 13 million individuals suffer from involuntary urine loss, or leaks, referred to as urinary incontinence. Over half of these are women, and not all of them are seniors either. In fact, these days younger women, career women, and many under age 50 suffer from light bladder leakage. 

There are many factors that can lead to light bladder leakage. These are just a few of the most common:

• Gender- Stress incontinence is more likely to happen in women due to the strain of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as hormonal changes such as menopause. Whereas men are more prone to having urge and overflow incontinence problems, particularly if they have prostate problems. 

• Age- Age plays a role but is not a determining factor. The muscles controlling the bladder and urethra can weaken with age if the proper steps are not taken. 

• Weight. Being obese or overweight can often increase pressure on the bladder weakening muscles, and causing urine leaks when stresses occur, such as jumping, laughing, or coughing. 

• Other diseases. Kidney disease, diabetes, neurological diseases, spinal injuries, or other diseases impacting nerves can lead to incontinence.

Because there are many causes of light bladder leakage, it is not uncommon for a woman who works a 9-5 type job to suffer from the condition. Involuntary leaks are not pleasant, and can leave one feeling anxious. No one wants to worry about leaks while attending and office meeting. So, despite the risk factors, there are things that can be done to feel confident with incontinence. Just because you suffer light bladder leakage does not mean it has to impact daily life, social life, etc. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Work on strengthening the pelvic floor. This is most useful for those with stress incontinence, but the idea is the same. If you know what is causing the incontinence to happen, such as weak muscles, seek a way to fix it. Urge incontinence may be the result of an infection. Non-invasive treatment options exist, so take advantage of them.

2. Choose incontinence products with rapid absorption. This will help to draw urine away from the skin, making it less uncomfortable, and reducing leaks. The right products for management are key. Select the right style and fit.

Choose absorbent products that are designed for your needs. If a women suffers light incontinence, for example, and tries to make due with a period pad, chances are she will not feel confident in social situations. However, choosing a product designed specifically for her body type, her condition, and her severity can give her the confidence she needs on a daily basis. Fannypants are a prime example. They are an active wear product designed for women on the go with light incontinence. They are low profile and offer great protection, making them an excellent choice for young vibrant women who don’t want to let their incontinence get in the way of their life.

3. Consider the risk factors. The risk factors are important to consider because while there are things you can do nothing about, such as age and gender, you can help to control weight, seek out treatment for diseases, and talk to your doctor about symptoms. And, if you know you are getting older, or that you have had a baby (or several), you know your risks are higher, and thus being proactive about prevention can be useful. For example, start doing pelvic muscles strengthening exercises early to help avoid the problem all together.

Taking the right steps can lead to confidently facing the world, despite light bladder leakage.


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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visithttp://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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