Bladder sensitivity: Always Discreet promotion

What is sensitive bladder?

Sensitive bladder is the unintentional loss of urine. Leaks occur when pelvic floor muscles and nerves are weakened.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms depend on which type of bladder sensitivity you have…

• If you leak urine when your bladder is under pressure, such as when you laugh or cough, it’s probably stress incontinence. Other triggers might be sneezing, exercise or lifting something heavy.

• A sudden urge to go to the loo, often resulting in the emptying of the bladder, is known as urge incontinence. This is generally caused by a miscommunication between the nerves of the bladder and the brain.

• If you are affected by both these symptoms, it’s called mixed incontinence.

What are the causes?

There are many reasons for sensitive bladder, but the most common ones are:

Pregnancy and childbirth

Having a baby can weaken the pelvic floor muscles or the sphincter muscle that usually keeps your urethra closed, meaning you have less control over your bladder.

Menopause

A menopause-related sensitive bladder is due to a drop in oestrogen levels. As a result, many women find they need to go to the loo more often and may experience sudden urges.

Being overweight

This can increase pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles.

Strenuous sports

Leaks can occur during exercise as a result of putting excessive demands on your bladder.

Don’t let sensitive bladder hold you back!

There’s no reason to let bladder sensitivity get in the way of living life to the full. You don’t have to adapt your life to avoid little leaks, all you need are some simple lifestyle changes and the right protection. So whether you’re donning that little black dress for an evening with your partner, or heading out for some fun with your girlfriends, you can feel completely confident doing all the things you want to do.

We recommend having a chat to your doctor to help you find a solution that’s right for you, but here are some little lifestyle changes that can make a big difference…

Don’t stop drinking

Although it’s tempting, don’t reduce the amount you drink as this can aggravate your bladder by making your urine more concentrated. Keep a healthy balance by drinking when your body tells you you’re thirsty. We know it’s tricky, but keep an eye on your intake of caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks, as these are diuretics, which make you go to the toilet more.

Perfect your pelvic floor technique

It’s never too late (or too early!) to start pelvic floor exercises, you just need to keep up the exercises to make the effects last. By practicing at least three times a day, these exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and give you more bladder control.

You can do them while waiting for a bus, shopping in the supermarket or watching telly and no-one will know what you’re doing!

Not sure where your pelvic floor muscles are? Have a go at stopping a pee mid-flow and you’ll feel them. To start a pelvic floor exercise, simply squeeze these muscles 10 to 15 times (not while you’re going to the loo though). Remember not to hold your breath or to tighten your stomach muscles while you’re doing them though.

Set a schedule

Believe it or not, but your bladder is trainable. Keeping to a daily schedule when it comes to toilet visits will help you train yourself. Talk to your doctor for more information.

 Find the right Always Discreet product for you

Help is at hand. New Always Discreet has been designed for sensitive bladders and there are a number of products to choose from. It really is simple to find the right protection for you…

• Always Discreet Liners are perfect for a few drops or less, which cause a little dampness.

• Always Discreet Pads are designed for occasional leakage, like when sneezing or coughing causes wetness.

• Always Discreet Pads+ are for frequent leakage, when lighter absorbency pads don’t offer enough protection to keep you feeling confident.

• Always Discreet Liners and Pads have an ultra thin absorbent core that turns liquid into gel. So even though they’re 40% thinner than the leading brand, they still absorb 2x more than you may need.

• If large amounts of urine loss caused by sudden urges means you need more protection, then Always Discreet Underwear is perfect for you. Offering up to 100% comfort and protection, the highly absorbent triple layer core helps absorb and lock away wetness and odour.
• Femininity and discretion are key features of the new Always Discreet line-up. Made with a new generation of ultra-thin materials, the new range will keep you protected while remaining discreet. The liners and pads have an absorbent DualLockTM core that helps lock away odour and wetness. They’re up to 40% thinner* than the leading brand, yet offer twice as much absorbency than you may need.** Plus, all products have the exclusive OdourLockTM technology that neutralises odours continuously. So you can feel confident and back in control again.

Go to alwaysdiscreet.co.uk for more information and to request your free Always Discreet sample.

(*Compares to the leading brand (percentage varies across line-up). **Based on average consumer loading.)