Bladder and bowel concerns are actually pretty common in young people. More common than you might think. Fortunately, there’s heaps of ways to treat and manage it.

If you’ve been experiencing incontinence for a long time, it’s common to just feel like giving up. Especially if it’s lots of effort to do what your doctor tells you, or if you feel like it hasn’t been helping much. Well, sometimes you have to try lots of different things with your doctor before you find the one that works for you, so it’s important to stick at it.

If you’ve already seen a doctor about a bladder or bowel control issue then you’ve taken an important first step. But there’s also lots of different health professionals and clinical services that can help with treating incontinence. You might already be seeing at least one of these health professionals, but it’s good to know all the different types of people that can help. If you’re not happy with your current doctor or health professional, you can always talk to your parents about going to see somebody else.

Incontinence (in-con-tin-ence) is the medical term for any accidental leakage of the bladder (wee) or bowel (poo).

Feeling a bit hopeless? Worrying that your incontinence might never improve? Don’t worry, this is super normal. But there are lots of ways to help you stay on top of the instructions from your doctor. It’s important to stay motivated and make sure you’re giving your treatment your all.

Bladder and bowel control problems can impact many parts of your life. In some cases, it can make you feel uneasy about hanging out with your friends. Lots of people worry that they’ll be teased if they have an accident in front of their friends. It’s normal to feel limited by incontinence at times, but by building your confidence you’ll be prepped to face any of life’s challenges.

There are times when incontinence might feel annoying or hard to manage. It’s important to know that you can still get involved in activities. There are different ways to manage these kinds of situations so you can still feel good about doing the things you love.

It’s not always easy to talk about bladder and bowel health, but there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about. Whether it’s talking to parents, friends, teachers or anybody else you trust, it’s easy to get a bit nervous or uncomfortable. But talking to people really can improve how you’re feeling. It’s often the first step in getting support and sorting out treatment.

Good toileting habits can help reduce the symptoms of incontinence. They can prevent the issue from getting worse, and generally help you get by a lot easier.

Bladder and bowel concerns can have a negative effect on your mental health. When you’re struggling with incontinence you can sometimes feel down, and it can impact other areas of your life too. Fortunately, there is lots of support available.

Sometimes starting relationships, dating and intimacy can be trickier to navigate if you’re experiencing incontinence. Healthy, happy relationships are very important for everyone. Make sure you feel safe and supported.

Do not restrict your fluid intake unless a doctor tells you to. It’s natural to think that reducing the amount of fluids you have each day might prevent incontinence, but in most cases it only trains your bladder to be able to hold less liquid and can make the issue worse. The only fluids that should be avoided are caffeine drinks like coffee, tea and energy drinks, and alcohol too. These fluids can make incontinence worse for some people.

Continence products like pads and speciality clothing can be helpful in certain situations. Having them on hand when you need them can be an important part of managing any accidents you might have. But they can’t replace a comprehensive treatment plan from a doctor or health professional. You still need one of those.