Clinics and visits will be taking place this week to mark World Continence Week.
Teams from NCIC will be out and about taking resources, posters, flyers and leaflets to the public and adding to displays in public areas in GP surgeries and clinics.
Lisa Wren, Team Lead for the Community Specialist Bladder and Bowel Service, said: “The main aim for World Continence Week is to raise awareness of all incontinence related issues. Sixty-one per cent of men in the UK will experience lower urinary tract symptoms and 34 per cent of women are living with urinary incontinence according to data collated by the National Institute for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
“People see incontinence as a taboo subject and will often suffer in silence rather than speak to someone about their bladder or bowel dysfunction. One of the aims is to highlight the impact urinary or faecal incontinence has on a person’s quality of life and encourage those living with these issues to seek help and support.
“Sometimes people will assume that incontinence is inevitably part of the aging process but this is untrue, if an individual’s incontinence cannot be cured (often it can) we now have access to so many different treatments/devices to support people in managing their incontinence.”
Lisa explained that as well as giving out information her small team will also be visiting wards in the acute hospitals to give out resources and information. Lisa also explained where people can get help.
Lisa said: “A good place to start is the individual’s GP so red flags can be identified promptly and appropriate action taken if needed. Our service accepts self-referrals, and referrals from other professionals too, such as community nursing teams. There are also websites such as bladderandbowel.org and apps for smart phones such as the CONfidence app.”
Bladder changes during the menopause
Fiona Evans, a specialist nurse in Continence Services at NCIC, has written this piece about bladder changes during the menopause.
She said: “As many colleagues working in the bladder and bowel speciality will agree, hormonal changes, particularly during the perimenopause/menopause, can have a significant impact on the well-being of women, both physically and psychologically.
“Many patients complain of Urgency and Stress urinary Incontinence (SUI). Frequent ‘UTI’ (urinary tract infection) type symptoms, vaginal dryness, itchiness & irritation, are also very common and can adversely affect quality of life on a daily basis.
“These symptoms can be due to reduced oestrogen in the vulval/vaginal area, called Genitourinary Symptoms of Menopause. NICE guidelines state that women should be offered vaginal oestrogen (pessary, cream, vaginal ring) and continue treatment for as long as needed to relieve symptoms. Symptoms often come back when treatment is stopped.
“A referral to The Community Bladder and Bowel Team will mean a holistic assessment of each patient and an individual treatment plan implemented. We have very positive feedback from patients due to their improved quality of life.
“Women may also need to see a Women's Health Physiotherapist for treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence, leaking on cough, sneezing, laughing.”
Symptom check lists and more information are available at Menopause Support or Menopause Matters.