Women may be known as the more talkative sex, but when it comes to a certain sensitive health topic, their lips are sealed, according to a new "Bladder Talk" survey of 780 women aged 35 and older in North America (U.S. and Canada) sponsored by TENA(R), the worldwide leader in the management of bladder protection, and conducted by Harris Interactive.
One in four women suffers from bladder weakness, but according to the survey, nearly 40 percent of women with symptoms have never discussed their condition with anyone. Of the women who acknowledge they have bladder weakness, almost half (48 percent) are embarrassed to discuss it and more than half (52 percent) either hide symptoms or are afraid of what others would think. The condition carries such a stigma that women would rather discuss other sensitive topics than their bladder weakness: infertility/fertility (32 percent would discuss before bladder weakness), their relationship with their spouse (30 percent), mental health (23 percent) and menopause (15 percent).
"Women often try to cope with private or embarrassing issues such as bladder weakness on their own, but they should know that they are not alone. The reality is that while bladder weakness affects a significant number of women, it doesn't have to slow them down. There are pelvic floor exercises and protective products out there to help women combat this issue. It's important for women to discuss the condition with their doctor so they can learn about their options," says Dr. Lauri Romanzi, a board certified gynecologist with more than 20 years of experience in women's health.