Urine Leakage Is a Significant Concern
Summary of Findings: National Sample of Women 45 and Older
- A majority (52%) of women say they are concerned about developing this condition, a proportion similar to those who say they are concerned about osteoporosis (56%) or hearing loss (53%).
- Women with or without urine leakage know little or nothing about this condition. Fifty-eight percent of women without urine leakage say they know "just a little" or "nothing at all" about the condition, and nearly half (45%) of women with urine leakage say the same.
- Among the women who reported urine leakage, half describe it as a major problem or always bothersome. They say it causes them to feel embarrassed and uncertain in social situations. One in five (19%) has changed the type of clothing she wears in response to her urine leakage, 16% had to cut back on spending time out of the house, and 15% get less exercise as a result of the condition. One in 10 has been forced to eliminate some activities from her life entirely. Despite its impact, three in 10 women with the condition have never discussed it with anyone.
- On average, women with urine leakage first experience the condition at age 47. Three in 10 develop urine leakage before age 35.
- Forty-seven percent associate the onset of urine leakage with a major lifestage event, most commonly childbirth.
- One in five women who have not discussed urine leakage with a doctor or other health care professional say they are too embarrassed or uncomfortable to do so.
- Women say their doctors could do a better job of communicating with them on the topic of urine leakage. One in five says her doctor did not listen when she wanted to discuss this topic. Twenty-two percent say the doctor did not take their complaint about urine leakage seriously.
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