Incontinence Affects One in Four Australians Over 15, with Only 30% Seeking Assistance

During the peak of the pandemic, Lisa served as a nurse in the COVID outbreak team assigned to Melbourne’s St Basil’s aged care home and other highly contagious locations.

“At that time, there was no vaccine, and our understanding of COVID and its susceptibility was limited,” she recalls. “Cases were multiplying rapidly.”

Amidst this challenging situation, Lisa faced a personal battle with incontinence. The multiple layers of protective gear she wore while treating infected individuals made it nearly impossible for her to reach the restroom in time.

Despite using continence aids, Lisa found them insufficient. She often ended up wetting herself before reaching the toilet. “I was wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and I started to experience leakage. It would trickle down my leg,” she shares.

Although Lisa attempted to reach the restrooms, infection prevention measures often hindered her efforts. “There was a specific day when I was wearing a pad, but the circumstances made it extremely difficult,” she explains. “What can you do in such a situation?”

Lisa describes that period as frightening, with concerns about exposing herself to COVID during her hurried trips to the restroom. “The outbreak surpassed our expectations. We would be informed of a certain number of cases, but when we arrived the next day, the numbers had tripled, leading to the implementation of new infection prevention measures,” she recalls.

“I vividly remember the panic I felt. I recall needing to use the toilet and thinking, ‘Well, I’ve probably contracted it now,’ while surrounded by vulnerable individuals,” she expresses. “The overwhelming sense of responsibility and the possibility of becoming a carrier for this disease was daunting.”

Ultimately, Lisa made the decision to resign from the COVID outbreak team primarily due to her struggles with incontinence.

Five million Australians are impacted by incontinence, with Lisa being one of them. Over the past two decades, she has sought assistance from urologists, pelvic floor physiotherapists, and other specialists. Although the cause of her incontinence remains unknown, she undergoes botox injections in her bladder every six months to alleviate the issue. Lisa’s observation that a young family member is experiencing the same symptoms leads her to believe that childbirth is not the cause. Despite the botox injections, she still experiences accidents. Without them, she would wet herself up to 15 times per day. Lisa lives in constant fear of wetting herself and being far from a restroom, describing the associated shame as indescribable.

Lisa is just one individual among the 5 million Australians aged 15 and above who are affected by incontinence. Shockingly, an estimated 78 percent of them choose not to seek medical help due to the shame and embarrassment they feel.

Incontinence is a broad term encompassing conditions related to the loss of bladder and bowel control, including the inability to pass urine or feces and involuntary control loss. Various types of incontinence exist, such as stress incontinence (urine leakage during activities that exert pressure on the bladder, like sneezing or exercising), urge urinary incontinence (involuntary urine loss accompanied by urgency), functional incontinence, and urinary retention (inability to fully empty the bladder). Regardless of the type, incontinence can be shameful, humiliating, and degrading for those who experience it.

The causes of incontinence can stem from a range of medical and psychological conditions, such as nerve damage, pregnancy, Crohn’s disease, kidney disease, and bladder injury. Lisa’s urologist, Karen McKertich, affirms that she is not alone in her struggle. Many individuals suffering from incontinence find their lives significantly restricted by the condition. In addition to the emotional toll, incontinence can lead to health issues like skin excoriation, resulting in rashes and infections, urinary tract infections, kidney failure when the bladder fails to empty properly, and permanent damage to bladder function.

According to the Continence Foundation of Australia’s 2021 findings, the number of Australians affected by incontinence is increasing, yet the percentage of individuals seeking medical assistance remains low. A staggering 78 percent of people do not discuss their incontinence problems with their families or general practitioners. Dr. McKertich explains that the main barriers preventing people from seeking help are the shame associated with the issue, the feeling of suffering alone, and the lack of awareness about available solutions.

During World Continence Week (June 19-25), the aim is to raise awareness about the prevalence of incontinence and provide support to those seeking information or guidance. The Continence Foundation of Australia offers assistance to Australians struggling with continence issues, including a national continence helpline (1800 33 00 66) that provides free and confidential advice. Dr. McKertich assures individuals that incontinence can often be resolved without surgical intervention. Many treatment options are available and tailored to the individual, without the need for invasive procedures or surgery.