Did you know that less than half of all women who suffer from urinary incontinence seek help?

This is according to Stacey Brewer, director of marketing and education for the National Association for Continence. When surveyed as to why they didn't seek help, many women offered answers along the lines of: "It's not a big enough problem. My quality of life isn't that affected."

OK, but how about your checkbook?

It turns out that the cost of dealing with women's urinary incontinence can be wickedly expensive in terms of out-of-pocket costs.

How Much Does it Cost to Deal with Urinary Incontinence?
Most studies indicate that women who don't seek help for their urinary incontinence symptoms can spend upwards of $1,200 or more per year on adult pads and diapers alone. That expense can add up year after year, not to mention increasing one's carbon butt print by a lot.

It is also silly, when there are less expensive options available ... if you ask.

For instance, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Policy estimates that the average woman with urinary incontinence might spend the following amounts annually for these treatment options:

Doing Kegels: $0
Pelvic floor rehabilitation using pelvic cones: $100
Medication prescribed by a physician: $435-$500
Pelvic floor stimulation: $695

All of these options are easily available for women with urinary incontinence, and they cost less than using pads and diapers. Pads and diapers are like bandaids for women's urinary incontinence; they help cover up the symptoms but they don't solve the underlying health condition.

The above four options not only can help many women with urinary incontinence improve or resolve their urinary leakage, but also cost less in the long run. What's more, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Policy, physicians are most likely to recommend Kegels, the least expensive therapy, as a first-line conservative treatment for women's urinary incontinence.

Kegels Really Do Work
Add to that the fact that Kegels, done correctly, have been shown to improve women's urinary incontinence symptoms. A review of recent studies on the effects of Kegel exercises indicates that women who did the exercises were anywhere from 2.5 to 17 times more likely to be cured of symptoms. Now you get an equation that now looks better for your checkbook than pads and diapers.

The same is true of pelvic floor stimulation, which is also a less expensive option than diapers and pads. The American Urogynecologic Society stated that in studies, this kind of stimulation cured 22% of women with urinary incontinence, and significantly decreased symptoms for a further 43% of the women.

Is getting help for your urinary incontinence symptoms sounding better than a long dreary future of adult diapers and pads? We hope so! We want all women suffering from urinary incontinence to reach out and get help. Be your own best health advocate. Educate yourself about your condition, and call your doctor to get help. You deserve it ... and so does your checkbook!

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