RAKUS Urges Open Talk About Urinary Incontinence and Seeking Help
During World Incontinence Week, Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) encourages people to overcome embarrassment and seek medical help for urinary incontinence, noting that it is treatable and only a minority of patients report it to doctors.
From June 15 to 21, World Incontinence Week is taking place, and Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS) is calling on the public to openly discuss urinary incontinence and pelvic floor problems without shame. The hospital emphasizes that incontinence is one of the most common yet least discussed health issues worldwide.
According to the International Continence Society, approximately 400 million people globally suffer from bladder or bowel symptoms. It is estimated that one in three women and one in nine men experience urinary incontinence at some point in their lives. However, many wait years before seeking help, viewing it as an inevitable part of aging or childbirth.
RAKUS specialists point out that effective treatments are available for most types of incontinence, including pelvic floor physiotherapy, medication, and surgery. The earlier a person seeks help, the better the results.
In Latvia, a survey conducted by RAKUS and Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) students under the supervision of professors Dace Rezeberga and Haralds Plaudis reveals that more than a third of women surveyed experience urinary incontinence, but less than half have reported it to healthcare professionals. Rezeberga notes that the problem often remains hidden because patients find it too personal or embarrassing; thus, doctors must create a safe environment for discussion.
Pregnancy and childbirth are critical periods for pelvic floor health, and timely intervention can prevent long-term complaints. RAKUS also stresses that urinary incontinence affects men as well, often linked to prostate diseases or previous surgeries. Professor Vilnis Lietuvietis from the Urology and Oncological Urology Clinic explains that the cause must be identified, as various treatment and rehabilitation options exist.
To raise awareness, on June 16 at 1:00 PM, the RAKUS Training Centre will hold an online seminar for healthcare professionals, including gynecologists, urologists, family doctors, midwives, and physiotherapists. The event will be opened by Professor Dace Rezeberga and will cover incontinence in a global health context, women's health after childbirth, stress urinary incontinence, anal sphincter injuries, and the role of physiotherapy.
