Interesting Facts

Do you have a concern about your bladder, prostate or pelvic floor? You’re not alone…

Conditions affecting the bladder, prostate and pelvic floor are some of the most common health concerns. Consider these statistics:

  • More than 3.3 million Canadians are living with urinary incontinence (nearly 10% of our entire population).1
  • More than half of women over 45 years old experience urinary incontinence.2
  • About 10-15% of Canadians suffer from symptoms of overactive bladder.3
  • 25-50% of all women will develop some degree of pelvic floor support problem (vaginal prolapse),4 and approximately 19% of all women will undergo surgery for this problem.5
  • By age 24, approximately 1/3 of women have been treated with an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection (UTI), and half of all women will be treated in their lifetime for at least one UTI. In the past year, 10% of all adult women have had at least one UTI.6
  • 80% of women who experience a UTI will experience another.7
  • About 10% of men in their 40’s and 25% of men in their 70’s experience moderate to severe urinary symptoms.1
  • As many as 30% of men with an enlarged prostate will go on to require surgery to relieve bothersome symptoms2
  • More than 3.3 million Canadians are living with urinary incontinence (nearly 10% of our entire population).1

These conditions can have a severe impact on a person’s quality of life. Compared to women with good urinary control, women living with incontinence are more likely to suffer from depression.3 Incontinence is among the top three chronic health conditions (along with Alzheimer’s disease and stroke) that can have a negative impact on quality of life.4

Unfortunately, problems with bladder control and urinary and pelvic floor function can be embarrassing, and many patients do not seek help. Only about ¼ of women with any bladder problem have seen a health care professional about it.5 More than half of women with stress incontinence have not sought medical help.6

 

1 http://www.canadiancontinence.ca/english/consumers/index.html, Cited on December 23, 2010.
2 Swanson JG, Kaczorowski J, Skelly J, Jinkelstein M. Urinary incontinence. A common problem among women over 45. Can Fam Physician. 2005;51:85.
3 Irwin DE, Milsom I, Hunskaar S et al. Population-based survey of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and other lower urinary tract symptoms in five countries: results of the EPIC study. Eur Urol. 2006 Dec;50(6):1306-14.
4 Sung VW, Hampton BS. Epidemiology of pelvic floor dysfunction. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2009 Sep;36(3):421-43.
5 Smith FJ, Holman CD, Moorin RE, Tsokos N. Lifetime risk of undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Nov;116(5):1096-100.
6 Miller JL and Krieger MD. Urinary tract infections: Cranberry juice, underwear, and probiotics in the 21st century. Urol Clin N Am. 2002;29:695-9.
7 Nickel JC. Practical management of recurrent urinary tract infections in premenopausal women. Rev Urol. 2005 Winter;7(1):11-7.