The month of November is being celebrated as the Bladder health awareness month in India to create awareness on bladder health. Experts on this occasion call on women not to suffer urinary leakages silently, which could lead to severe complications. Dr Rubina Shanawaz, Consultant Gynecologist, Fortis Hospital, stated that one in four women in India above the age of 35 face some kind of urinary leakage. The common misconception is that it is a part of having given birth to children and due to the ageing process. Also, it is a fact that women are embarrassed to bring it up to their families and seek treatment options for the same, she said.

In Bangalore, the increased incidence of chronic cough owing to allergies leads to more women suffering from urinary leakage on coughing. Another factor is the increased body mass index owing to a sedentary lifestyle which puts pressure on the urinary bladder leading to embarrassing leaks, Dr Rubina explained. Women suffering from diabetes present with constant visits to the restroom with dribbling of urine which is due to the nerve supply to the bladder being affected by high blood sugar values, she noted.