Ever Had a Leak? "Urine" Not Alone! Don’t be embarrassed. It happens to many people from time to time – the unwanted urine leak. In fact, it is likely that 13 million people in the US suffer from regular urine leaks. Many more women have the issue than men. At some point in their adult lives, 50% of women will suffer from the excessive urge to urinate or experience the involuntary loss of urine, also referred to as urinary incontinence (UI). Urinary incontinence (UI) can happen at any age, but occurrences increase in young adulthood and steadily rise in older adults. The prevalence of UI in women by age group are 6.9% for 20-39 year olds, 17.2% for 40-59 year olds, 23.2% for 60-79 year olds, and 31.7% in women 80 years or older. These statistics could actually be higher because half of women do not seek medical help for their condition. Participants learned how urinary incontinence affects quality of life, why it might occur, healthy bladder habits, and when to seek help.  Also witnessing real women who are breaking down the stigma related to incontinence by sharing their stories. This lesson also showed several exercises recommended by a Women’s Health Physical Therapist that may be able to help alleviate minor leak issues and/or strengthen muscles that can prevent leakage.

In order to evaluate the “Ever Had a Leak? “Urine” Not Alone!” lesson an evaluation was used during the conclusion of each presentation. The evaluation was used to gauge understanding, knowledge retention, and projected behavior change in participants. The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent taught this lesson in 4 counties to 95 Purchase Area Homemakers. Of the 95 program attendees, 84% said they gained knowledge about the pelvic floor and urinary incontinence and 85% reported that they had gained knowledge about good bladder habits. 86% of the participants gained knowledge that certain food and drink may irate their bladder.  56% gained knowledge about pelvic floor exercises that can help prevent or reduce urinary leakage and over half of the participants reported that they were able to add pelvic floor exercises into their daily life. Only 28% said that before participating in the lesson said they felt uncomfortable talking to their doctor about urinary incontinence and 64% reported that after participating in the lesson felt more confident.