Guest Blogg by Welsh Mum

Incontinence is something that when you think about it, you might associate with the elderly, but the fact is a lot of women – including myself – have suffered with some degree of stress urinary incontinence, in particular after giving birth. It can happen after just one child or multiple children, and it’s not something that medical professionals or other mums tend to talk about. My midwife before or after never mentioned it specifically just told me to do pelvic floor exercises in general, and I felt incredibly embarrassed the first time I went to the doctor about it because I didn’t realize it was so common. Most of my readers are mums with young children, so I’m guessing that some of you reading this are nodding your head right now.

There are lots of options for women with Stress Urinary Incontinence but you might not know about them because we’re not talking about it. That’s why today I wanted to share one option for women who are suffering – Contrelle Activgard. Contrelle treats the condition, not just the symptoms. I’m not an expert, so I’m going to hand you over to those who are, to tell you a little bit more about Contrelle Activgard and how it could help you if you’re suffering from Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Stress urinary incontinence, begone! 

It’s not glamourous, it’s not sexy and it’s certainly not talked about enough: stress urinary incontinence (SUI). An unfortunate reality for mums, SUI can affect those who have just given birth for the first time as well as those who have had multiple children, with roughly a third affected for up to a year after giving birth. 

The condition can impact a women’s mental, physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. In fact, the link between anxiety and depression with incontinence is incredibly high, so much so that one study found that incontinence doubles the risk of postpartum depression in women. Despite being so common though, the condition remains a taboo subject and few women feel able to discuss it with friends or family, even their partner. 

Specialist Women’s Health and Pelvic Physiotherapist Maria Elliott says, “It is very common for women to experience some incontinence issues after giving birth. These may disappear within a few weeks following delivery, but if you are still experiencing leaks when you have your postnatal checks at about 6 to 8 weeks, tell your doctor, or ask your health visitor, midwife or physiotherapist for advice and options for treatment. It isn’t just something that you should accept as a normal part of being a mum”.

Contrelle could be the answer, treating the condition, not just the symptoms.

An innovative piece of FemTech, Contrelle has been created to treat Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) amongst women of all ages – family and friends won’t even know it’s there! It works by lifting the bladder, via a soft, foam bladder support inserted into the vagina. The product has been well-received in Scandinavia for the past 10 years and is now being reintroduced to the UK. 

Superior to pads in every way, Contrelle is designed to stop bladder leaks before they happen, rather than absorbing them. It can be inserted before embarking on any kind of exercise, before a night out, or before any activity that might involve being a long way from a bathroom. In fact, it can be worn for up to 16 hours. 

Ash Monga is a consultant urogynecologist based at Southampton University Trust. He says, “Many women find pads uncomfortable or unsuitable, especially when seeking a solution to SUI and particularly when exercising. Contrelle is discreet and it can be used by the majority of suffers as and when needed, in combination with pelvic floor exercises or when waiting for surgery.” 

To ensure the fit is just right, Contrelle customers start with a sizing kit to establish the correct fit for them. Sizing kit RRP is £7.50, follow on packs in different sizes start at £18.75 for a 5-pack or a 30-pack for £90. 

So let’s talk about it – what do you think? Have you ever suffered from Stress Urinary Incontinence or is it something that worries you about having children? Are you aware of the things you can do that improve it, such as pelvic floor exercises, or even medication if needed? What do you think about Contrelle Activgard?

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