TENA Reveals Silent Incontinence Epidemic in the United States

PHILADELPHIA CREAM, July 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Incontinence is often associated with the elderly and those with disabilities, but a new study from TENA, a leading global provider of incontinence products, shows that lack of bladder control is becoming increasingly common in the United States. From bedwetting to temporary loss of control during exercise, urinary incontinence affects a wide range of Americans – and it’s on the rise.

TENA research shows that more than one in four (28%) searches related to incontinence are also related to menopause, a common time when bladder weakness occurs. Demand for information is also increasing by 3% each quarter.

At the state level:

• West Virginia And Alaska see the greatest interest in incontinence.
• Kentucky, Alabama And Utah The greatest interest is observed in stress incontinence, including urinating while sneezing.

U.S. citizens are also increasingly likely to turn to the Internet for advice:

• Google searches for urinary incontinence have increased by 25% since 2019.
• There were 13,000 conversations on the same topic on Facebook, X and Reddit in the United States over a 30-day period.
• Common topics included pregnancy, menopause and surgery; many stressed that they were not prepared for the loss of bladder control.
• Most users reported feelings of shame, fear and frustration about the condition, leading to feelings of isolation.

“In my mind, it’s something that only happens to women with children or older women. I’ve never been pregnant and I’m in my 30s, so it seems like I’m too young to be dealing with this.” said Allison Granta 34-year-old woman suffering from incontinence.

Hazel VillarrealTENA North America Marketing Director, said: “The data reveals a growing awareness and proactive approach to incontinence management. It is encouraging to see people taking the initiative to seek out information and solutions to improve their quality of life.”

TENA is seeking media support to combat social stigma and improve the quality of care for all U.S. citizens suffering from incontinence. The publication of this study is the first step in that journey.

For more information about TENA and its work on incontinence, please visit the TENA website.

About TENA, an Essity brand
TENA is a brand of Essity, a leading global hygiene and health company. We offer a comprehensive range of absorbent, skincare and digital health technology solutions tailored to the needs of individuals, their families and healthcare professionals.

With TENA, Essity is at the forefront of developing products and services that help improve people’s dignity and quality of life. We strive to deliver sustainable incontinence care with better care and better products.

Methodology
TENA analyzed more than 50,000 incontinence-related search terms over a 12-month period, using data provided by Google and other popular search engines.

All conversations mentioning incontinence-related topics on Facebook, X, Pinterest, and Reddit were also monitored for 30 days using the Pulsar platform.

SOURCE TENA