The Health Condition Women Don’t Talk About

One of the most common conditions active women deal with is one that no one talks about:  we accidentally pee when we run (or jump, or lift, or laugh.)  Judging from the volume of TV commercials for disposable incontinence products, you’d think that half the women in this country suffer from bladder leaks.  Guess what?  We do.  We also don’t talk to our doctors about it.  We tell ourselves that it’s an inevitable part of childbirth, menopause, or aging.  It’s embarrassing but nothing can be done. 

Hold on!  Though common, bladder leaks are NOT a normal part of life at any stage.  And as long as we’re busting myths, older women aren’t the only ones with leaky bladders either.  Consider this:

·       Up to 40% of elite female high school and college athletes complain of bladder leakage (over 60% for gymnasts … trampoline anyone?)

·       By the time we reach our 50’s well over half of us are dealing with it.

·       Here’s the worst part:  20% of us give up doing the things we love to do because of the embarrassment.  The health consequences of being sedentary are well documented.  We know this, but we don’t know where to start to fix it.  Prickly Pear Sports is out to change that. 

Back to those TV commercials.  The solution is not to stock up on disposable liners and briefs*, but to consult your physician, pelvic floor physical therapist, urogynecologist, or other health professional to come up with a treatment plan.  No matter your age or fitness level, effective treatment approaches exist.  Here are a few ways to get started:

·       Let your doctor know that you suffer from bladder leaks and get a referral for pelvic floor physical therapy.

·       To find a physical therapist trained in pelvic floor health, visit the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy website at https://aptapelvichealth.org/patienteducation/.

·       Consult a urogynecologist, a physician who has received special training to diagnose and treat women with pelvic floor disorders.  You can find one near you in the American Urogynecologic Society’s provider directory:  https://www.voicesforpfd.org/find-a-provider/.

At Prickly Pear Sports, our mission is to enable active women – and women who long to be active again - to run, jump, laugh or lift without the embarrassment of visible bladder leaks.  We want you off the sidelines and back doing what you love to do.  Find out what’s causing your bladder to leak, seek treatment, and stay active while you’re at it.  Go the distance with confidence. 

*While we’re out to limit the number of plastic-based incontinence products in landfills (more about that later) we understand that there are times when you need extra protection.  It happens to us too.   For those times, we recommend Attn: Grace products.  You can find out more about Attn: Grace and their commitment to sustainability in the disposable products space here:  https://attngrace.com/pages/ingredients