I’m a teen with incontinence

As a teenager, you probably don’t expect to lose control over your bladder or bowel habits. After all, you are not a child anymore, and you certainly aren’t an elderly person! But it is a myth that incontinence only affects certain age groups. The reality is, the involuntary release of urine or faeces can also be an issue for some teenagers.

Though it’s easier said than done, the main thing to remember is that this is not something you should be embarrassed about. Think about someone you could trust to talk to about what is going on, and then consider speaking with your family doctor/GP. Trust us – there is loads of advice and support out there if you know where to look. As a first step, you can get help on how to talk with a healthcare professional here.

So what has caused this incontinence? There are many different types of incontinence, and teens can suffer from any of these. In addition, evidence suggests that fluctuating hormone levels can contribute to teen incontinence, as can an injury from a sport such as running or gymnastics. If your pelvic floor muscles have been damaged in some way, this can be reversed through certain exercises.

For many teens, incontinence can affect their quality of life in multiple ways. Perhaps you are anxious about making social plans, or get nervous if you have to sit a long time during an exam or class. If this is the case, then you must speak up! There are many effective treatments for incontinence, and it is not something that you need to deal with on your own.

References

European Guidelines on Urinary Incontinence [Internet]. 2018 [cited 3 August 2020]. Available from:https://wfip.org/european-guidelines-on-urinary-incontinence/.

How to stop or manage daytime wetting [Internet]. 2018 [cited 3 August 2020]. Available from:https://www.eric.org.uk/how-to-stop-or-manage-daytime-wetting.

Nieuwhof-Leppink AJ, Schroeder RPJ, van de Putte EM, de Jong TPVM, Schappin R. Daytime urinary incontinence in children and adolescents. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2019 Jul;3(7):492-501.