Prevalence
Stress
incontinence affects nearly 17% of women in the UK. That’s
3.8 million women.1
However, as it is known that many women are too
embarrassed to discuss their problem and do not seek help2, the
real number could be far higher.
Men
can also be affected by stress incontinence, especially following
a prostate operation. Numbers for men are even harder to come
by as little research has been carried out in this area.
Health
Stress
incontinence is easily treated and can be prevented.
Treatment
can result in significant improvement of symptoms and often a
complete cure. Click for more information
on prevention and treatment.
Disposable pads contain paper pulp, plastics,
absorbent gel granules and chemical additives in the plastics.
All these chemicals and materials impact on the environment and
there are concerns about possible health risks from some of them.
Cost
Using washable continence products could save you money.
Click for cost comparisons.
For the amount of money you would spend on disposable
pads in just two months you could buy enough washable pads to
last you a year or more with potential savings of approximately
£150 per year (if using 3 pads a day) or £300 per
year (if using 6 pads a day).
For washable pants with a built in pad potential
savings range from £88 to £262 a year or more depending
on the number used per day and the price paid.
Waste
Disposable
pads use a lot of natural resources and can only be used once
before being thrown in the bin – even if they are still
dry. It all adds up to a massive number of items every year, which
end up incinerated or in landfill, or reappearing in our seas
and rivers.
Even with modern screening techniques, some sewage
related debris (SRD), smaller items like plastic backing strips
from pads, can still pass through the system. Beachwatch recorded
SRD on Britain’s beaches as 6.7% of all debris in 2001.3
Landfill space is running out.4 Many local authorities
are struggling to stop waste amounts increasing 5 and there is
still pressure for more incinerators as the government tries to
meet the Landfill Directive.
Incineration is not a trouble free solution 6
and emissions from incinerators cause controversy wherever they
are sited.
Waste prevention at source is the most effective
way of reducing our rubbish.
References
1
The Continence Foundation
2
Hunskaar, S., Lose, G., Sykes, D., Voss, S. (2004) The prevalence
of urinary incontinence in women in four European countries, BJU
International, 93, 324-330
3 Beachwatch 2001 ‘Nationwide Beach Clean
& Survey Report’; by the Marine Conservation Society
4 Rethinking rubbish in London, Highlights of
the Mayor's Draft Municipal Waste Management Strategy, Sept 2002
5 Rethinking rubbish in London, Highlights of
the Mayor's Draft Municipal Waste Management Strategy, Sept 2002
6 Zero Waste, Robin Murray, pp118-119 |
