It’s Okay for Women to Laugh at Those Embarrassing Body Changes

POISE Brand Survey Says Light Bladder Leakage is Most Embarrassing

NEENAH, Wis., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ — “Sometimes, I pee when I laugh” is one of those potential embarrassing situations that one in four women could talk about if they only had the nerve. It’s not the most comfortable conversation starter, but it could be because nearly 16 million women experience light bladder leakage when they laugh, cough, sneeze or exercise.

In a recent national survey of more than 1,000 women conducted by Poise brand, light bladder leakage was cited by 8 in 10 of them as the No. 1 most embarrassing body change to discuss with other women.

“As a physical therapist who works with women, I’ve found that they are embarrassed to talk about light bladder leakage, which is a shame since we talk and laugh about everything else, including those unexpected changes in our bodies like having your first period or going through menopause,” said Jane Frahm, supervisor of women’s physical therapy services, Detroit Medical Center, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. “We want women to know that light bladder leakage is common and manageable if armed with the right information and tools. In fact, it’s something women might even come to laugh about. It really is okay to laugh.”

What Every Woman Should Know

For women experiencing light bladder leakage, here’s what they should know:

  — 1 in 4 women experiences light bladder leakage at times.

  — It’s easily manageable if you know why it happens and what to do about

     it.
  — The most common type of light bladder leakage happens when women laugh,

     cough, sneeze, exercise, jump, lift or make other movements that put

     pressure on their bladders.
  — More than 50 percent of first-time pregnant moms and up to 85 percent

     of second-timers develop light bladder leakage — usually in their

     third trimester when the baby’s growth accelerates, causing the uterus

     to lean up against the bladder almost continuously.  It usually is

     temporary.
  — In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, the most common causes of

     light bladder leakage are:

        — Losing estrogen during menopause, which can cause muscles to

           weaken

        — Being overweight

        — Urinary tract and bladder infections

        — Conditions that cause chronic coughing such as bronchitis and

           asthma

        — Side effects of some drugs
  — Caffeine, alcohol, tomato-based products, acidic juices like grapefruit

     juice and spicy foods may exacerbate light bladder leakage by

     irritating the bladder.  However, limiting intake of fluids, such as

     water, may make light bladder leakage worse.
  — Period-only pads are not designed for light bladder leakage.
  — Light bladder leakage often can be managed through pelvic floor or

     Kegel exercises, a healthy diet, medical treatments, and using

     absorbent products specifically designed for light bladder leakage like

     Poise brand products, which provide discreet protection against wetness

     and leaks and neutralize odor.
  — For more information on light bladder leakage, check with your

     physician or visit http://www.poise.com/.

  About Poise and Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Launched in 1992 by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Poise brand is the market leader in absorbent protection products for women. Poise products come in three different product forms (liners, ultra thin pads and regular pads), five absorbencies (very light, light, moderate, maximum and ultimate) and 10 product variations such as extra coverage, pads and liners wings and ultimate coverage.

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people — nearly a quarter of the world’s population — trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly- Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 135-year history of innovation, visit http://www.kimberly-clark.com/.

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Source: Kimberly-Clark Corporation