I learn about how the body works thanks to the work I do. And after attending a session with Always to learn about their new advanced product (more on that later), I know a lot about adult incontinence should I or a friend ever suffer from this, I’m prepared with all sorts of helpful information.
That said, it is possible I do have friends who suffer from it. While it tends to affect older adults, it is something that young moms can suffer from, and a few of my friends are moms now. But AI, which is the involuntary loss of urine due to the loss of bladder control, is something that people often keep a secret. And I can’t say I blame them. No one wants to be known for not being able to control one’s bladder, but the good news is there’s a new, improved way to help you live more confidently with it..
How much do you know about adult incontinence? Here are five eye-opening things I learned that day from the people at Always.
- An estimated one in three women over 18 years old suffer from AI. That’s a big number. Think about it: if you’re hanging out with nine of your friends, that means three of you may suffer from AI.
- Adult incontinence affects not only older adults. The majority are aged 50+ but younger women can also be afflicted as a result of pregnancies. If you have a higher BMI, too, that increases the risk of experiencing AI, and conditions such as diabetes and MS also increase your chance of suffering from it as well.
- AI doesn’t only mean what you likely think it is. Before learning about this condition from Always and doing some research, I pictured AI being a senior, say, sitting watching TV or out at a park and peeing themselves and entirely emptying their bladder because they didn’t get the notification from their body that they had to get to a washroom. AI can happen in many different ways, however. Maybe you’re laughing so hard or doing some intense cardio and the motion causes you not to be able to control your bladder and you pee a little. There’s also a form called urge incontinence, which is when you have a sudden, strong need to urinate and experience some involuntary loss of urine. This is also called an overactive bladder.
- People hide their AI even from loved ones. I can see why women would feel ashamed to admit they suffer from AI. But I learned from Always that through their in depth research and interviews with AI sufferers that these women go to great lengths to hide their problem. They had women who admitted to lying and making up excuses in order to hide their AI from their grown daughters and grandkids. Always also discovered that two-thirds of women who suffer from AI don’t use an underwear product at all because of their embarrassment. And those who do use them? They hide away their AI underwear because the undergarments were plain unattractive.
- If you suffer from AI, you now have a new undergarment option: Always Discreet Boutique. Because of their findings, Always set out to design a product that would not only help one manage the incontinence issue, but also improve the emotional aspects of it. Always Discreet Boutique takes four key components and improves on them: The core of the product absorbs three times the amount of liquid than the amount of urine one usually releases at a time. In terms of comfort, the Always Discreet Boutique design features channels in the absorbent material that distributes the liquid so that the panty feels dry and comfortable. Next, the colour: a subtle pink hue with some decorative printed embellishments; this is a panty AI sufferers can tuck into their lingerie drawer as they do not look like diapers in any way. And lastly, the cut; the panty has a low rise and hugs the body comfortably, so much so that even in snug-fitting clothing, the Always Discreet Boutique underwear is not obvious, no pantylines!
Having Always Discreet Boutique can make a world of difference for a woman who suffers from AI; I got to witness the change of attitude in the interviews Always conducted. These women look like they’re ready to step out and live life rather than hide away with their secret. If you suffer from AI, you may want to try out Always Discreet Boutique; it’s available now in stores. It may be the confidence booster you’ve been waiting for.
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December 22, 2017
Alright, ladies, I’m about to talk about a not very cool or trendy topic, but I think it’s important one.
Why do I think it’s important to talk about? Because I think the idea of not being able to control when you pee (aka stress urinary incontinence, ie. when the muscles around the urethra become too weak to prevent the leakage of urine from the bladder when pressure or stress is placed on it) sounds pretty awful, completely embarrassing and I can understand why many women feel shameful about pee leaking as freely as the waterfall pictured above and having no control over it.
They shouldn’t feel so alone though, because as I learned from Dr. Jennifer Berman, one in four women suffer from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). (Does Dr. Berman’s name ring a bell? If so, that’s because she’s the host of the Emmy award-winning show, The Doctors). She goes further to say that based on her experience as a doctor that all woman will at some point suffer from SUI. It happens commonly after having given birth, and can also emerge when one is menopausal and your body is going through hormonal changes.
What’s particularly exciting about Impressa is that it’s over-the-counter and “it’s extra significant because while it’s not a treatment because it’s not permanent, it is the only non-surgical option that offers the same if not better efficacy as surgical intervention,” she says.
See, the thing is, Impressa is not an absorbent product (most of us have heard about absorbent undergarments to address this issue, after all). Rather Impressa is a device that you insert much much a tampon (only more rectangular in shape) and it physically supports the urethra to help prevent you from leaking urine. Material-wise, the device features a silicone frame surrounded by a non-absorbent white mesh. Impressa can be worn up to eight hours and when you’re ready to remove it, simply remove pulling on the attached string (much like a tampon).
As Dr. Berman explained to me, most women know what situations can trigger their SUI. The triggers range, but it can include walking, sneezing, coughing, riding horses, or running for example. For her, while she experience SUI after having each of her two children, SUI has now made a reappearance for her when she rides horses. Now there’s an option that allows her to not have to worry about any wetness showing (Dr. Berman would typically not use any type of undergarment, and instead would just worry and be prepared to change her pants after horseback riding).
Think about it: Dr. Berman and most women know their triggers so they can make sure to wear an absorbent undergarment when heading into aerobics class, for example. But what about the women who experience SUI when they cough or sneeze? We don’t have control when we cough or sneeze so imagine adding on the stress and worry that you may pee yourself whenever you cough? With Impressa, the worry is alleviated.
“There’s still taboo and shame around bodily functions and the loss of control of bodily functions,” says Dr. Berman. “It’s perceived as dirty or that something wrong with you. especially for younger women but older women, too,” she says, noting that for older divorced or widowed women who are starting dating again, SUI presents an impediment to social freedom and quality of life.
So while it may not be the product you’re looking to shout about from the rooftops due to the embarrassment tied into SUI, it’s easy to consider how life-changing this product could be for women suffering from SUI. So consider looking into Impressa if you’re suffering from SUI. I’m guessing you haven’t told anyone about your SUI problem other than your maybe your doctor, and once you start using this product, it’ll remain your little secret always.
For more information, visit www.impressa.com.
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February 29, 2016
OK, this cute little lacy number here? Does more than you may realize.
Developed by Canadian Wendy Spencer, these Stride Everyday panties ($24.99, available at Shoppers Drug Mart) feature an absorbent, microfibre-lined gusset to help with any “light leaks” (yes, I’m talking about pee, people).
No, it’s not a pretty topic, but it happens and these machine-washable underpinnings may be just what you’re looking for (think nice undies with built-in pantyliner, if you will). Wendy, a marathon runner, discovered the “joys” of stress incontinence after starting to run again after the birth of her son.
And while I’d admit that when I first heard about the product, I immediately thought of David Sedaris’s experience using the Stadium Pal–thankfully these thongs and panties are way more girly and discreet.
April 19, 2011
