Incontinence Facts

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), which is loss of bladder control, is a condition caused by a wide range of circumstances; some of which include childbirth, aging, infection and athletic activities. Genuine stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence, affecting 16.5 million women in the U.S. alone. Urinary incontinence is many times more common in women compared to men secondary to female pelvic anatomy. Normal life events including childbirth and menopause also increase the risk. Despite these large numbers, many women are not aware of the full range of treatment options that are available to them.

According to statistics from the National Association for Incontinence, it is estimated that, in the United States, billions of dollars are spent each year on SUI, including money spent purchasing adult diapers (adult diapers actually outsell children's diapers two to one).

Less than five percent of the money spent annually on incontinence is for diagnosis and treatment. Most of the expense is on palliative treatments to make symptoms more manageable. Urinary incontinence is the most common reason for nursing home admission among elderly female women. Greater than 75 percent of women can experience cure/significant improvement in their incontinence symptoms with appropriate diagnosis and management.

Common Misconceptions Regarding Incontinence

• Incontinence is a normal part of the aging process;
• Currently available treatments are generally unsuccessful and associated with significant complications/side effects.