Diveen® to reduce female stress urinary incontinence

Incontinence can affect anyone - but no one talks about it

Incontinence is one of the most prevalent health issues facing the female population and also has a significant impact on their quality of life. A lot of women suffer from some type of incontinence during their lifetime. Despite this, many still believe that incontinence is a condition which concerns only the elderly, and are therefore ashamed to discuss the condition openly with their physician. This unfounded shame was exactly the reason why Danuše Hrbková, a 56 year-old brand ambassador for Diveen^®, decided to share her own experience. “As long as women are afraid and ashamed to talk about their health problems, nothing will change,” comments Danuše the overall situation. 

First symptoms of incontinence

Danuše began noticing symptoms of incontinence while at work. Over the course of a year, she had two urinary tract infections and problems started to appear insidiously. It began with needing the bathroom more often during work. She attributed this to drinking coffee and was initially unconcerned. However, her need for the bathroom suddenly worsened to the point that she was running  to the toilet at the last minute. “By then, I had visited my gynecologist and received medication. The problems with incontinence then improved,” says Danuše. 

Impact on life number two

But then she got sick. After a serious infectious disease, she developed asthma, but that was not all. She began suffering from swelling in both legs. The bigger they got, the more frequently she took diuretics. And the carousel started spinning. On the one hand, she was taking medication for incontinence, on the other, she was swallowing diuretic medication. The swelling turned into severe lymphatic oedema of the lower limbs, and Danuše was forced to leave the civil service job that had fulfilled her for so many years. Every day she had met people living in almost every country in the world. She had shared their worries and joys. The most difficult thing was to come to terms with the fact that she could no longer work. To this day, she is still in contact with some of the people she had met and receives regular news from the around the world. 

Withdrawing from social life

The fact that Danuše has ended up on a full disability benefit also had its positive aspects – for example, she has now time for trips organized by her municipality. “I’m a passionate collector and I enjoy visiting flea markets to find things,” she notes. But this caused another issue – how could she handle her incontinence in these situations? The idea that she would have to find a toilet before she even arrived somewhere stopped her from going. The feeling when you know that you are only a few minutes away from the urge to urinate is terrible. Danuše therefore withdrew from all activities outside her home. She closed up and did not talk about her problems with incontinence with anyone. It is an issue that everyone is ashamed to talk about. It has always been said that this is an older women’s problem, but this is not true. Incontinence can affect anyone; the problem is nobody talks about it. 

Discovering a miracle called Diveen^®

One day Danuše happened to see an advertisement on the internet for Diveen^®. She requested a sample and was surprised by what she received. “I found it interesting and most importantly, it’s not an aid such as urine-retention panties or pads,” says Danuše. However, she didn’t really believe it would work. “But in the end, I was able to poke around my beloved flea markets and nothing forced me to desperately look out for the nearest toilet. It was wonderful,” confides Danuše and adds: “On the contrary, afterwards, I travelled home in peace. The usual immediate and instant need to go was gone. What is normal for most people was a miracle for me after years of suffering.” 

A return of the appetite for life  

Collecting is Danuše’s passion, which is directly connected to her cottage. She didn’t just by a cottage back then; she bought herself a small zoo as well: The cottage contained worms and hornets that everyone was afraid of. In memory of getting rid of an enormous hornet’s nest, she commissioned a wooden hornet decoration for the cottage. 
And that’s how it started. Someone gave her a bee figurine, and suddenly there were more. Today Danuše collects anything that looks like a bee or has bees on it, and  everyday items with bees on them. She holds the Czech record and would like to try for a world record. 

From her courses in a pelvic floor studio, Míša Pospíšilová knows that incontinence is a common issue, maybe even the most common one. She definitely knows what she is talking about as she was diagnosed with a pelvic floor prolapse after the birth of her first child. Her experiences with Diveen^® have delivered great results and eased the pain.

The efficacy of Diveen^® is clinically proven and also attested by women who have integrated Diveen^® into their lives. F.I. Valerie Auzas, a 52-years-old French women, says: "Thanks to Diveen^®, I can get out on sports field again, which is incredibly important for me."

To mark World Continence Week, Isabelle Reynaud reveals common misconceptions about incontinence in women.

Five common misconceptions

1. Urinary leakage is preventable

“Incontinence is not unavoidable, but can become a reality that greatly affects people’s social life and their intimate relationships. Those affected need a quality response and to feel properly supported.” This type of support requires a good understanding of constitutional risk factors such as the posture and the many reasons why it gets worse (chronic coughs, harmful practices of sports training, obstetrics, hormones, etc.).

2. Incontinence doesn't just affect older women

“Many people believe this condition only occurs in older women, even though it is found in women as young as 13 who are active and in good health. The common misconception that links incontinence to advanced age reinforces the notion that it is taboo and an embarrassing discussion topic. This is why general practitioners, OBGYNs and midwives need to bring it up with women before they experience it themselves, and perform tests in addition to their usual exams, such as having the patient cough, testing her ability to contract and relax the perineal muscles, etc.”

3. Urinary leakage does not necessarily mean an end to exercise

“Exercise is great for your heart, joints, muscles and overall balance. With regard to urinary leakage, it is not so much the sport or physical activity itself that causes the condition, but rather the way in which a person trains. In particular the duration, intensity and quality of such practice,” explains Reynaud. Some sports, of course, are riskier than others. For example track and field, basketball, handball, BMX, trampolining and horseback riding usually expose an existing weakness which then necessitates specific care. “It is not a question of stopping exercise but of adapting it to the characteristics of the female anatomy,” recommends Reynaud. 

4. Strengthening the perineal muscles and other “remedies”: Be careful!

“Some active women have well-toned perineal muscles and still experience leakage. This means that the issue lies elsewhere. We also have to deal for example with intra-abdominal hypertension.” Every case of urinary incontinence has to be looked at individually – copy-paste advice is usually not very helpful. Also beware of trivialization – “as if it were normal to work out and experience leakage!” – as well as quick “tricks” shared in the locker room. They are often unsuitable and, at worst, risky, such as using tampons to avoid leakage during workouts. Proper care is the best way to be able to exercise with peace of mind.

5. There are not only embarrassing solutions

Numerous women find it uncomfortable or even embarrassing to use pads or diapers. According to Isabelle Reynaud, the challenge is not “to reconcile everyday life, sports and bladder weakness, but to get rid of it”. The earlier the treatment starts, the more likely it is that preventive measures will suffice. These include learning which are the right reflexes, and which practices you should rather forget about, such as crunches (lifting the chest and/or legs), instructions to inhale, inflate the stomach, squeezing when urinating or waiting until the last minute to urinate.

If women wait too long to see a doctor, it can become really detrimental to their health. But Reynaud knows, “you should never admit defeat, there are always solutions” – before resorting to surgery. That’s why she gives all sorts of tips during the preventive health sports workshops set up by her association. “Doctors can also prescribe an intravaginal device, a discreet solution that mechanically reduces the risk of urine leakage and is available without a prescription.”1

References

^{1. Cornu J.N et al. 75NC007 device for non invasive stress urinary incontinence management in women : a randomized controlled trial. Int Urogynecol J (2012);23(12) :1727-1734.}

^{2. Wu JM, Hundley AF, Fulton RG. Forecasting the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders in US women 2010–2050. Obst Gynecol. 2009;114(6):1278–83.nn}   

^{3. Haab. F. et al. Traitement de l'incontinence urinaire d'effort par colposuspension percutanée: une technique non satisfaisante. Progrès en urologie 2001, 11:336-339}

^{4. Qaseem A, Dallas P, Forciea MA, Starkey M, Denberg TD, Shekelle P. Nonsurgical management of urinary incontinence in women: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2014;161(6):429–40. doi:10.7326/M13-2410.}

^{5. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, et al. The standardisation of terminology in lower urinary tract function: report from the standardisation sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Urology. 2003;61(1):37–49. doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(02)02243-4.}

^{6. Cornu J.N et al. 75NC007 device for noninvasive stress urinary incontinence management in women: a randomized contol trial. International Urogynecology Journal 2012, 23 (12): 1727-34}