In the News

A new study from the Harvard Medical School in Boston suggests that incontinence may raise the risk of depression in older women. The study was published in the April issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The study included 4,511 women who were enrolled in the population-based Health and Retirement Study cohort.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a weakening of the pelvic organs, causing organs (ie. vagina, uterus, bladder, rectum) to fall out of place. In women, the condition is often caused by a laborious childbirth, obesity, hysterectomy, and frequent constipation. People affected by this condition are often riddled with fecal and urinary incontinence problems, as well as painful sex.

In a new Swedish study, researchers concluded that men with early prostate cancer had a lower mortality rate after undergoing prostate removal surgery compared to those who practiced watchful waiting (closely monitored by doctors).

The 20-year-long study was published March 6 online in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

People with urge incontinence are constantly rushing to the bathroom, in hopes of getting there on time before having an accident. This can be both embarrassing and stressful, as constant sudden urges to go can disrupt work, school and other daily activities.

Although bedwetting alarms are the most effective treatment for primary enuresis, many parents are still unfamiliar with the alarms and skeptical of its effectiveness. The Bedwetting Store recently published new survey results, which may provide some reassurance for parents who may be uncertain about using a bedwetting alarm for their child.

If you’re experiencing involuntary urinary leakage, dancing may be the answer to your bladder problems, according to a new Canadian and Swiss study.

Urinary incontinence is a common malady among elderly adults, especially in women between the ages of 70 and 80. Those suffering from incontinence are often encouraged to strengthen their weak bladder muscles through pelvic floor exercises, or kegels.

Previous research has shown that prompted voiding is the most effective technique for incontinence management. Caregivers encourage patients to use the bathroom on a regular schedule, which teaches the person to know when they need to empty their bladder. This helps reduce the frequency of incontinence accidents, amount of adult diapers used, and labor efforts of nurses and caregivers.

Australian company Simavita has created an “electronic diaper” that would show when and how often an elderly patient empties their bladder. A sensor is placed into the person’s incontinence pad or diaper, and creates a profile of the user’s incontinence needs.

People who suffer from spinal cord injury are often left with an inability to control their bladder. This leads to bladder spasms and spontaneous voiding accidents that are often managed with catheters and incontinence briefs, or corrected through surgery.

If you’re wondering why men have stopped shaving this month, it’s probably because they’re celebrating Movember, a 30-day charity campaign dedicated to raising awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer.

The costs of anticholinergics are similar to the costs of Botox when used as a treatment for urge incontinence for six months, according to results from a randomized trial led by Dr. Anthony G. Visco from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Duke University Medical Center.

Pelvic floor disorders affect millions of women each year. People with pelvic muscle weakness may experience problems with urinary incontinence (UI), fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Understanding the symptoms of these conditions can help women receive better treatment.