The WHOLE Impact of UI
With the predicted growth of the global aging population, there is projected to be an increased public health challenge for the management of urinary incontinence [3]. Despite growing public awareness, less stigmatization, hundreds of ongoing clinical trials, numerous approved pharmacological products, medical devices, and surgical procedures for the management of urinary incontinence, there remains an unmet medical need in addressing urinary incontinence (UI).
UI disproportionately affects women over 49. However, it also occurs in men and women across the age spectrum. Prevalence of UI in women begin to peak at menopause, with close to 80 percent of women between 49 and 60 years reporting involuntary leakage of urine. Although a common condition, urinary incontinence is often underreported and undiagnosed due to social stigma.
The International Continence Society defines urinary incontinence as the involuntary loss of urine that represents a hygienic or social problem to the individual. The cost of treating urinary incontinence in the United States is $16.3 billion, 75 percent of which is spent on the treatment of women. Though the etiology of urinary incontinence can vary, including dysfunction of the bladder, sphincter, and/or pelvic floor, the etiology is often unclear even with a detailed patient history and physical examination [1]. Urinary incontinence increases with age, and as the global population ages, urinary incontinence will become an increasing public health challenge. It is often a chief reason for institutionalizing elderly people in nursing homes and other non-acute care facilities.
Women with UI frequently avoid many of life’s activities for fear of embarrassment from unexpected and unpredictable leakage episodes. 87.2% of patients suffering from UI indicate a negative impact on their social life [4]. More than a third of women with UI avoid athletic activities for fear of embarrassment [5]. Also, many women with UI avoid social activities with friends resulting in a 51% increase in feelings of loneliness [6]. Urinary incontinence also impacts women’s sex life. According to one study, 43% of participants with urinary incontinence felt that their UI had adversely affected sexual relations [8] and another study indicated a 52% reduction in sexual activity for women with UI [7].
The management of urinary incontinence in adult women is an iterative process. For many affected women, urinary incontinence causes sufficient bother and intrusion to warrant consideration of treatment. The options range from lifestyle modification to more-invasive surgical interventions [2]. Women might prioritize resolution of their urinary incontinence by actively engaging in pelvic floor rehabilitation, making lifestyle changes (including fluid optimization), pharmacological treatment, medical devices, or surgery to resolve persistent symptoms.
HerSecure developed it’s patent pending PressureGuard, a noninvasive device to address these challenges by applying a constant upward compression pressure to the urethral meatus counteracting bladder pressure and helping prevent leakage. Based on early testing, it has shown to be a cost efficient and effective option to this prominent growing medical condition. The mission of HerSecure is to help women reclaim their lives and enjoy their daily activities without the thought of worrying about another embarrassing leakage episode.
[1] Hampel C., Weinhold D., Benken N. et al.: Definition of overactive bladder and epidemiology of urinary incontinence. Updated: 28 November 2016 Author: Sandip P. Vasavada, M.D. Visit: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/452289-overview#a6,
[2] Burgio KL. Update on behavioral and physical therapies for incontinence and overactive bladder: the role of pelvic floor muscle training. Curr Urol Rep. 2013;14:457–464. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
[3] Aoki, Y., Brown, H. W., Brubaker, L., Cornu, J. N., Daly, J. O., & Cartwright, R. (2017, July 6). Urinary incontinence in women. Nature reviews. Disease primers. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878864/
[4] Mallah F, Montazeri A, Ghanbari Z, Tavoli A, Haghollahi F, Aziminekoo E. Effect of Urinary Incontinence on Quality of Life among Iranian Women. J Family Reprod Health. 2014;8(1):13-19
[5] Brown WJ et al. Too wet to exercise? Leaking urine as a barrier to physical activity in women. J Sci Med Sport 2001; 4: 373-378
[6] Stickley A, Santini ZI, Koyanagi A. Urinary incontinence, mental health and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults in Ireland. BMC Urol. 2017 Apr 8;17(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s12894-017-0214-6. PMID: 28388898; PMCID: PMC5385037.
[7] Schoenfeld M, Fuermetz A, Muenster M, Ennemoser S, von Bodungen V, Friese K, Jundt K. Sexuality in German urogynecological patients and healthy controls: is there a difference with respect to the diagnosis? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013 Oct;170(2):567-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.08.002. Epub 2013 Aug 11. PMID: 23988220.
[8] Sutherst J, Brown M: Sexual dysfunction associated with urinary incontinence. Urol Int 35: 414, 1980
