Stress incontinence is no laughing matter – nearly 17%¹ of women over 18 suffer from it when they laugh, cough, sneeze or over-exert themselves. And there’s a booming market in disposable continence products that’s adding to Britain’s waste mountain.

So for Continence Awareness Week, 13th to 19th September 2004, Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) is launching a briefing on stress incontinence protection. It advises on preventative methods and provides information on money saving and waste saving reusable continence protection.

Using washable products could save women money. For the amount you would spend on disposable pads in eight weeks, you could buy all the washable pads you need to last a year or more.

Throwaway products used for stress incontinence generally end up in household waste, and 90% of this ends up in landfill. Landfill space is running out and incineration has its own problems with associated toxins in air emissions and ash.

Many women who experience stress incontinence do not consult a health professional but manage their symptoms on their own, buying protective products on the high street.

In 2001 alone, nearly £24 million² was spent on continence products in the UK not counting all those women suffering from stress incontinence who might use sanitary pads or towels instead.

WEN’s stress incontinence protection briefing will be available from 13th September. A copy can be downloaded here (224k pdf) or you can order one by telephoning WEN 020 7481 9004.

Continence Awareness Week is organised by the Continence Foundation.

ENDS

For media information contact Elizabeth Hartigan, Women’s Environmental Network, Tel: 020 7481 9004 Email: bibahartigan@aol.com Website: www.wen.org.uk/continence

Notes to editors

Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) is a registered charity which campaigns on issues which link women, health and the environment. Always inclined to break new ground, WEN has recently produced a briefing centred on sanitary protection and the environment more.

WEN’s continence campaign is funded by the Real Nappy Association and Biffaward, a multi-million pound scheme set up by Biffa Waste Services.

Stress incontinence is involuntary leakage of urine caused by pressure on the bladder from coughing, sneezing, laughing, and exertion.

Waste: To meet EU requirements we need to significantly reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill. The EU Landfill directive requires the UK to reduce biodegradable waste going to landfill to 35% of 1995 amounts by 2020, with UK waste amounts still on the rise this is an uphill task.

Biodegradable waste sent to landfill creates methane gas which contributes to global warming.

Continence Awareness Week (13-19 September) is an annual campaign run by national charity the Continence Foundation to publicise the professional help available to people affected by bladder and bowel control problems.

The Foundation’s Helpline is staffed by specialist nurses who can offer expert advice on all aspects of continence problems, and give callers the details of their nearest NHS Continence Advisory Service. Call the Helpline on 0845 345 0165 (9.30?1.00 Monday to Friday) or email continence-help@dial.pipex.com

Extensive information about continence problems is also available on the Foundation’s website: www.continence-foundation.org.uk

Cost: Average high street price for disposable pads, 15.5p each May 2004, average online price for washable pads £2.45 each May 2004.

Refs:
1. The Continence Foundation
2. Euromonitor Market Research GB, December 2002, Volume XLIII