If treated promptly, such conditions are not serious. Because little public attention has been paid to this problem until recently, the incontinent person may feel alone. Many people experience a sense of personal failure, a child-like shame. More than half, in fact, do not seek medical advice for the problem. Urinary incontinence, however, can have serious emotional effects.
Many people feel embarrassed, helpless, or angry.
In a recent survey of physicians, nearly all of them reported that a patient's embarrassment and reluctance to discuss bladder problems is a major barrier to successful treatment. Incontinence caused by an illness, such as stroke, or treatments, such as those for prostate cancer, is a major cause of depression. To prevent humiliation by wetness or odors, people with incontinence may totally alter their way of life. Routine errands become very difficult. Public bathrooms are often scarce and difficult to locate.