When to Seek Medical Care

Urinary incontinence affects about 13 million people in the United States, predominantly women. This includes 10-35% of adults and 50% of the 1.5 million residents in nursing homes. As many as 60% of nursing home patients are incontinent, while 30% of elderly people living at home are incontinent.

Urinary incontinence is an underdiagnosed and underreported medical problem. About 50-70% of women with urinary incontinence do not go to the doctor for treatment because of social stigma. People with incontinence often live with this condition for six to nine years before seeking medical therapy. Living with urinary incontinence puts you at risk for rashes, sores, and skin and urinary tract infections. Effective treatments for this common problem are available in many cases.