{"id":1726,"date":"2021-05-28T12:37:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T12:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.mutusystem.com\/en-uk\/?p=1726"},"modified":"2023-12-15T11:21:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T11:21:56","slug":"new-campaign-tackles-health-taboo-harming-womens-dignity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutusystem.com\/en-uk\/pelvic-floor\/new-campaign-tackles-health-taboo-harming-womens-dignity\/","title":{"rendered":"New Campaign Tackles Health Taboo Harming Women\u2019s Dignity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Incontinence and postnatal body issues are major health concerns for women, costing the NHS up to \u00a3233 million per year<\/a>. They harm women\u2019s dignity, have a huge impact on mental health, and can ruin lives for years. However, many women aren\u2019t aware that this misery is treatable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through a recent study, we proved that these conditions can be improved by women in their own homes, without expensive medical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MUTU launched a national 30-day #PelvicFloorChallenge campaign to encourage women to improve their pelvic floor and open up discussions about postnatal body issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 50% of women<\/a> will suffer from incontinence at some point in their adult lives. For a woman who develops postnatal incontinence in her 30s, this could mean 50 years of bladder weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrary to popular belief, this is not an \u2018old woman\u2019s problem\u2019. Almost 1 in 4 women<\/a> between the ages of 18 and 44 experience incontinence. 37% of women have wet themselves at work within the last month. Of those, 21% wet themselves<\/a> weekly and almost 1 in 10 daily while at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Designed to combat this and raise awareness of the issue of bladder weakness, the 30-day #PelvicFloorChallenge encourages women to put six minutes aside each day to start to heal their pelvic floor by following a free-to-use, step-by-step video guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wendy Powell, CEO and founder of MUTU System, comments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor many women, this situation is preventable. With the right information and exercises, women suffering from postnatal issues such as incontinence, diastasis recti, or pelvic organ prolapse can, in most cases, be treated by themselves at home and even have their condition reversed. We hope that the 30-day Pelvic Floor Challenge will help show women what is possible and encourage them to talk about the issue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Female health issues, such as incontinence, diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation), or pelvic organ prolapse, are among the last personal health taboos. The stigma attached makes 75% of women<\/a> with incontinence suffer in silence. Those that do seek help take on average 6.5 years 10 to do so. This seriously impacts mental health, doubling the risk of postnatal depression<\/a>. Sufferers may feel humiliation, shame or anxiety about becoming incontinent in public and distress at others finding out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Commenting on the impact that physical health conditions can have on women\u2019s mental health, Annie Belasco, Head of PR, Fundraising and Helpline at PANDAS <\/a>Foundation, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a charity specialising in postnatal and antenatal depression, we understand that the physical demands of pregnancy, birth and motherhood can have a serious impact on women\u2019s mental health. \u2018Baby blues\u2019 can be a dangerous assumption of low mood and changing behaviour after having a baby and it is important to raise awareness around this issue, and the physical symptoms that can often be linked to these low moods. We know how closely physical and mental health are linked and that\u2019s why campaigns like MUTU System\u2019s 30 Day Challenge, which encourage mums to take time to care for themselves, are so important.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the impact bladder weakness can have on women\u2019s mental health, it is also a costly condition to live with. Women with bladder weakness spend on average \u00a3548* a year on sanitary items to deal with the symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The available medical options can be daunting and controversial. Invasive and expensive treatment options, such as vaginal mesh<\/a> and vaginal rejuvenation devices are high-risk and often unnecessary. In fact, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance that vaginal mesh surgery should only be used as a last resort for treating pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wendy Powell continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe high profile failings of vaginal mesh surgery have put incontinence back in the spotlight, but the sheer number of women suffering in silence reveals a desperate lack of understanding about available and appropriate treatment options. Women need to know that it doesn\u2019t have to be like that and there are highly effective steps they can take themselves to improve their condition.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nPelvicFloorChallenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Female health issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
PANDAS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The cost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
MUTU System Survey Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n