Total Control

More Common Than You Might Think: You Are Not Alone

• 1 in 3 new moms experience chronic loss of bladder control six months after childbirth; for some, it may be transient; for others, it may persist.
• 30-50% of childbearing women over 40 develop a chronic, out-of-control bladder.
• Nearly 20% of women over age 75 experience daily incontinence.
• Women typically "cope" 6.5 years with symptoms of incontinence before receiving a diagnosis.
• By age 70, 11% of the general female population has major surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (dropping of the uterus, bladder or rectum into the vagina) or incontinence. Many factors can weaken a woman's pelvic muscles, including:
  • Childbirth
  • Menopause
  • Pelvic surgery
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Urinating habits
  • Nutrition

While the chance of having pelvic health problems increases with age and the number of times a woman has given birth, young female athletes and women who have never delivered a baby can also experience problems.

Normal frequency of urination is generally considered to be:

• 0-1 times at night
• 6-8 times per day
• 3-4 hours between trips to the bathroom