Today I saw a wonderful patient who recently turned 70 and decided it was finally time to do something about her overactive bladder problem, after more than ten years of leakage, pads and getting up at night. The good news is her trouble can be solved with a simple 20-minute procedure, but I had to ask why it had taken so long to seek help. Research shows that many individuals, particularly women, often delay seeking help for overactive bladder, bowel leakage, or bladder leakage due to several factors, which can be both physical and psychological in nature. Let’s review.
Common Reasons People Delay Seeking Treatment For Incontinence
From incorrect assumptions to lack of awareness to plain old embarrassment, there can be multiple reasons people delay seeking treatment for incontinence.
Embarrassment and Shame
Conditions like overactive bladder or bladder leakage can be embarrassing to discuss, leading people to feel ashamed or uncomfortable seeking help. And sometimes we doctors do not help matters; surprisingly, few doctors today know about minimally invasive solutions to solve the problem. The stigma of bladder and bowel control often prevents people from openly discussing their symptoms with healthcare providers, which is unfortunate.
Normalization of Symptoms
Many people mistakenly believe that symptoms such as frequent urination or bladder leakage are a normal part of aging or childbirth. They dismiss these symptoms as something they must simply endure rather than recognizing them as easily treatable conditions.
Fear of Diagnosis or Treatment
The fear of receiving a diagnosis for a medical condition or undergoing treatment can also deter individuals from seeking help. They may be afraid of what the diagnosis might entail in terms of lifestyle changes or the invasiveness of potential treatments.
Lack of Awareness
Most people are unaware that effective treatments exist for overactive bladder, bowel leakage, or bladder leakage. Without knowledge of available treatment options, individuals may resign themselves to living with their symptoms rather than seeking help.
Prioritization of Other Health Issues
Many people I see prioritize other health concerns over bladder or bowel control issues, especially if they perceive these issues as less urgent or significant. They may delay seeking help until their symptoms become more severe or interfere significantly with their daily lives.
Cultural and Societal Factors
Cultural beliefs and societal norms regarding health, illness, and seeking medical care can influence individuals’ attitudes toward addressing bladder and bowel control issues. In some cultures, discussing intimate health concerns may be considered taboo, further contributing to delays in seeking help.
The Bottom Line
Overall, a combination of embarrassment, lack of awareness, fear, and normalization of symptoms often leads people to delay seeking help for overactive bladder, bowel leakage, or bladder leakage. That’s why it’s important for healthcare providers to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment. People deserve to feel comfortable discussing these sensitive issues and have access to appropriate treatment and support. Solutions have never been more effective, safer, easier, less invasive and covered by insurance. If you or someone you love has an overactive bladder, bowel leakage or bladder leakage, there is no time like the present to seek help.
Contact the team at Nevada Surgical to get started.
