Women’s urinary incontinence is estimated to affect over 18 million women in the United States. We have to estimate that number because half the women who do have urinary incontinence never seek help, so the real numbers are hard to pin down.
Nevertheless, women’s urinary incontinence is becoming a very prevalent condition, as common as diabetes or arthritis, and it affects women of all ages, not just women of the baby boomer generation.
So why don’t more women seek help?
The Case of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
A quick look at the statistics tells a powerful story of why more women suffering from urinary incontinence don’t get help.
- Women’s urinary incontinence is rarely brought up during routine doctor visits.
- 25% of women surveyed said they were too embarrassed to raise the issue.
- 68% of doctors say it is difficult to treat patients who are too embarrassed to talk about their health problem.
- Urinary incontinence tops of the list “embarrassing issues” women won’t raise with their doctor.
- 64% surveyed felt that their urinary incontinence wasn’t enough of a problem, so they didn’t bring it up.
- Only 30% of family practice doctors routinely raise the issue.
What to Do About “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
The person with the greatest power in this limbo of “don’t ask, don’t tell” is you, of course. If you have women’s urinary incontinence, then the best way to ensure that you get the help you need is to be a strong health advocate for yourself. Make an appointment with your doctor specifically to discuss this issue. Then prepare yourself to get the most out of your appointment. Here are some articles that might you do just that:
Find the Right Doctor
What Questions Will Your Doctor Ask?
If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to leave a comment, contact us, download our ebook, or follow us on Twitter.