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8: Translating Personal Challenges to Public Policy

DOI:

10.1891/9780826110701.0008

Authors

  • Sampselle, Carolyn M.

Abstract

Incontinence is a personal challenge that imposes heavy consequences on individual quality of life and a high financial burden on national healthcare costs. Both women and men suffer with incontinence, but more women than men experience it, with a female-to-male ratio of 2.6. Smaller numbers of both sexes suffer from fecal incontinence. This chapter deals with urinary incontinence (UI) in women, but similar factors influence policy affecting UI in men and fecal incontinence. Estimates of the cost of UI include the direct costs of diagnosis, treatment such as medication or surgery, and routine care such as absorbent pads. Stress, urge, and mixed incontinence are the most common types of UI in women. Strong research support has accumulated in favor of choosing conservative approaches as the first-line treatment for all three types of incontinence common in women. These practices include pelvic floor muscle training, bladder training, and the Knack Maneuver.