December 17, 2008 (Charleston, South Carolina) – The National Association For Continence (NAFC) announces the availability of a new pamphlet entitled “Non-Surgical Treatments for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence.” The publication provides an overview of behavioral and non-surgical treatment options for women confronted with involuntary leakage of urine.

Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) involves the uncontrollable leakage of urine when internal pressure is applied to the bladder with physical stress such as sneezing, coughing and laughing. Certain risk factors contribute to the chances a woman will experience SUI such as pregnancy and childbirth, hysterectomy, nerve and muscle damage, obesity, menopause, and chronic coughing associated with allergies and smoking. SUI is the most common type of incontinence for women under 60. In fact, it accounts for at least half of incontinence in all women with nearly 15 million affected in the U.S. Of those 15 million, researchers estimate that only 3 to 8 million have severe enough symptoms to require surgical intervention (Bump and Norton, 1998).

Many women suffer with SUI without treatment, unaware that symptoms can be managed or eliminated. In a 2002 nationwide survey sponsored by NAFC, 54 percent of 1,029 women interviewed strongly or somewhat agreed that urine leakage is a normal part of aging. “Through our research, we know that many women needlessly go undiagnosed and untreated. We want to ensure that women know there are effective treatments available and many do not involve surgery,” stated Nancy Muller, NAFC’s Executive Director. “Of course, women should always discuss their symptoms and history with their physician to determine the best treatment.”

The publication includes a detailed explanation of how to do pelvic muscle exercises (PMEs), also referred to as Kegels. Research demonstrates that PMEs greatly improve the strength of the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder, thereby improving the ability to lessen or eliminate leakage. Also discussed are treatments such as pelvic floor stimulation and biofeedback, topical estrogen, injection therapy and radiofrequency energy treatment.

The pamphlet, sponsored by Novasys Medical, Inc., can be ordered through NAFC at 1-800-BLADDER or www.nafc.org. In addition, NAFC has updated three other consumer education pamphlet – “Surgical Treatment for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence,” “What Every Man Should Know,” and “Pelvic Organ Prolapse.”

About the National Association For Continence (NAFC)

The National Association For Continence is a 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is threefold: 1) to educate the public about the causes, diagnosis categories, treatment options, and management alternatives for bladder and bowel control problems, nocturnal enuresis, voiding dysfunction, and related pelvic floor disorders; 2) to network with other organizations and agencies to elevate visibility and priority given to these health concerns; and 3) to advocate on behalf of consumers who suffer from symptoms as a result of disease or other illness, obstetrical, surgical or other trauma, or deterioration due to the aging process itself. NAFC has publications covering a wide range of bladder and bowel health concerns as well as a quarterly newsletter, Quality Care, to which consumers may subscribe as NAFC donors. Supporters also receive NAFC’s Resource Guide, a comprehensive directory of bladder and bowel health products and the companies that make them. NAFC is broadly funded by consumers, healthcare professionals, and industry. It is the world’s largest and most prolific consumer advocacy organization devoted exclusively to this field. For more information, visit www.nafc.org