Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Health Center
Related to Incontinence & Overactive Bladder (OAB)
Coping with Incontinence - Social and Pschological Effects
Treatments for Incontinence & Overactive Bladder (OAB)
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Recognizing the Social and Psychological Effects of Incontinence
Here are some real facts to consider:
  • Urinary incontinence affects 200 million people worldwide.
  • More than 30 adult Americans experience some form of incontinence. An estimated 75-80 of those sufferers are women..
  • Consumer research has indicated that one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily.
  • Men are less likely to be diagnosed than women. Men are also less likely to talk about it with friends and family, and are more likely to be uninformed.
  • Many individuals who experience loss of bladder control symptoms do not use any treatment or product to manage their incontinence because they don't know where to turn for help or are embarrassed.
  • Urinary incontinence plays a vital role in the decision to institutionalize an elderly person
  • To manage incontinence is extremely expensive. It is estimated that incontinence product account for more than 2% of healthcare costs in the United States, which translates to roughly $3900+ per person.
Despite its considerable economic, physical and psychological impact, incontinence is still a largely neglected problem. Urinary and fecal (bowel) incontinence is one of the most unpleasant and distressing problems a person can suffer from often causing embarrassment, isolation, depression and physiological problems, Troublesome nocturia (night time incontinence) and urge incontinence may disturb sleeping patterns and affect daily activities. To the caregiver, it can cause a sense of hopelessness and frustration.
Many people who do not suffer with incontinence cannot understand
the impact that it has on a person's social life.
Some incontinence sufferers report that it causes them to lose self-confidence, self respect, feel shameful and even withdraw from society. The fear of being found our or leaving proof behind for friends or family to find is overwhelming. All of these feelings impact the person negatively on various levels.

Urinary incontinence can interfere with a couple's intimacy. The sufferer struggled to keep their condition private for fear of being rejected. In some people, the need to urinate several times a night due to urge incontinence leads to sleep deprivation causing associated symptoms such as irritation or decreased production in daily activities.

For a person suffering with incontinence social life can be inhibited. Some people say that they opt out of family outings and fun activities for fear of an accident or leakage through a product that isn't absorbent enough. Some individuals with stress urinary incontinence can't be as active in life as they wish to be because activities such as running, lifting weights or bouncing on a trampoline with a child for fun causes bladder leakage. Effective management is the only way to enjoy a healthy social life in spite of urinary incontinence.
Incontinence can truly cause havoc with a person's social life.
Unfortunately, urinary incontinence is not something people feel they can talk about freely because there is a lot of stigma attached to it. Some view incontinence as a hygiene problem. Woodbury Health Products has a mission to help millions of people suffering from incontinence, often in silence and shame. We would like to be the engine that drives society into a healthier way of thinking about incontinence. We understand the feelings of embarrassment some people feel about incontinence even cause some people to look for the quickest solution to hide their “problem.” Perhaps there is a temptation to scoop up the leading brand of disposables at the local market instead of being humiliated by asking about what better choices there may be. As a result, a person with incontinence may be missing out on an array of products and services that could help them live more freely and comfortably.

We realize that everybody has a different situation. We offer products that are high quality, for the best value and for varying levels of need. Striving to keep up with a rapidly changing industry, we seek the latest incontinence products on the market so they are introduced and available to you quickly and conveniently. Our Continence Care Consultants are knowledgeable about all of our products and welcome any inquiry you may have. We enjoy taking the time to provide you with the answers to all of your questions and seeking out the solutions for your particular situation as needed.

We hope to help remove the "taboo" associated with incontinence that exists in society today. Woodbury Health Products believes that once we make strides toward turning off society’ stigmatization about incontinence that people will be more empowered to educate themselves and more comfortable seeking treatment and product options that could enhance self-esteem and confidence.