Let’s lift the taboo and start talking about incontinence!

There’s no shying away from it, it’s not a glamorous subject but it affects so many women later in life, we need to start having conversations about it.

As a woman over 40, you may have already begun to experience some changes in your body that you never thought would happen. You may have found yourself gaining weight more easily, your hair thinning, and your skin drying out. But one change that you may not have expected is urinary incontinence. You may have already experienced a little leakage when you laugh, cough, or sneeze, and it's only getting worse as you get older. Research shows that 1 in 3 women in the UK¹ have some form of weak bladder but nobody wants to talk about it, and they continue to suffer in silence. That figure is probably even higher because women put off going to the doctor to discuss their symptoms because they are too embarrassed.

Here's how you can manage incontinence during menopause

What causes Urinary Incontinence?

There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence/weak bladder. The most common cause is weak muscles around the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). There are several things that can contribute to urinary incontinence as you age. One of the most common causes for older women is menopause. During the menopause, estrogen levels decline, which can cause changes in the urinary tract and lead to incontinence. Pregnancy and childbirth are also major contributing factors, as they can weaken the pelvic floor muscles.

For further advice, read the following:
Strengthening the pelvic floor for women
Pregnancy and Incontinence

Getting through your daily life with confidence

There are things you can do to help you stay in control and get through your day with confidence.

You may be tempted to just use a sanitary pad because it’s what you are used to and seems less embarrassing when going out to the shops. But they are specifically designed for menstruation and not for any urine leaks. There are products out there, like the new MoliCare range of discreet pads from Hartmann direct, that are specifically made to fit the female body, so you don’t have to worry about them being seen under clothing whilst providing you with discreet protection. They also deliver to your door, so you don’t have to worry about facing someone at the shop counter.

If you are suffering with incontinence, it’s important you use the best products to suit your problem to give you back your confidence.

Wearing an incontinence product does not have to be an uncomfortable experience!