It is clear that diapers and institutionalization will be inadequate responses to the anticipated incontinence epidemic as baby boomers age into the new millennium. Many studies have focused on the treatment of urinary incontinence. For many types of incontinence, behavioral treatments meet this criterion. Many women will wait an average of eight years before seeking medical care for their incontinence symptoms, utilizing menstrual and incontinence collection pads in the interim. These women cite embarrassment and an assumption that incontinence is a normal part of aging as the two primary reasons for the delay.
Many women believe that their clinicians are dismissive.
When they do receive treatment, a significant number of women remain unsatisfied with the results. These men are unaccustomed to wearing pads and tend to react to pad usage with a greater degree of depression than females, and remain dissatisfied with the results of their incontinence therapy. Despite the increased focus on incontinence treatment over the past 10 years, there remains a significant lack of information available on prevention. Both women and their physicians, for example, tend to discuss Kegel exercises only after a pregnancy. Consequently, there are many questions that remain unanswered.