FEATURED ARTICLE
Incontinence: let’s talk about it by The Continence Foundation of Australia
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he Continence Foundation of Australia is the national peak body promoting bladder and bowel health. As an organisation we advocate, inform, research, educate and raise awareness of incontinence and related health conditions. Our vision is an Australian community free of the stigma and restrictions of incontinence.
childbirth, prostate cancer treatment and a range of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or arthritis. Women have a higher likelihood of experiencing incontinence. Of people in the community who have urinary incontinence, 80 per cent are women. Some of the most common types of urinary incontinence:
We know that incontinence carries a lot of stigma and is rarely spoken about. We need society to open the conversation because bladder and bowel control problems are common, with one in four adults affected in Australia.
• stress incontinence where a person leaks small amounts of urine during activities that increase pressure inside the abdomen and push down on the bladder. This commonly occurs with coughing, sneezing, laughing, walking, lifting or playing sport.
WHAT IS INCONTINENCE?
• urge incontinence is a sudden and strong need to urinate. This can also be called an unstable or overactive bladder. It can make people suddenly need the toilet and some may leak urine before they get there.
Incontinence can range in severity from ‘just a small leak’ to a complete loss of bladder and bowel control. There are two main types of incontinence: urinary and faecal.
URINARY INCONTINENCE Urinary incontinence (or lack of bladder control) is a condition commonly associated with pregnancy,
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• incontinence associated with chronic retention when the bladder is unable to empty properly and frequent leakage of small amounts of urine occurs as a result.
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTANTS IN ACCESS AUSTRALIA
