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

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.

Doctors are trained to support you, answer your questions, and give you all the help you need to improve and manage your bladder and bowel concerns. There are load sof ways to treat incontinence, and some treatments even help you overcome your problems altogether. Incontinence is a medical condition so it’s important to get the right advice from a health professional .

If you’ve got an issue with your bladder or bowel, it’s important to see a health professional about it as soon as possible. The sooner you get help, the easier it will be to sort out and the less chance it has of becoming more serious. There are lots of different health professionals and services that can help with treating incontinence, like doctors, Nurse Continence Specialists, and other specially trained experts.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.