3 women on the common health problem we’re still not talking about.

Although light bladder leakage, or LBL, is extremely common — one in two women over 35 experience it — zero in two women are talking about. Similarly to menstruation, menopause and perimenopause, LBL has long (and unjustly) been a taboo topic, one rarely discussed openly and publicly.

Like with most things, though, the only way to change this narrative is to have open and honest conversations about it.

This is exactly what Poise is doing. Not only are they trying to rid the stigma that exists around LBL by encouraging women to have candid conversations about it, but they are also launching 2 in 1 Washable Underwear which offers protection from light bladder leakage and menstruation.

The underwear comes with built-in anti-odour technology for all day freshness, which gives women not only comfort, but reassurance so they can go throughout their day without any anxiety. They're also reuseable to wear, wash and wear again which, on behalf of our planet, is a huge tick.

To start this conversation, I spoke to three women from the Mamamia community about their experience of LBL and exactly what they want other women to know. 

Here's what they had to say.

Jenn, 38

Jenn. Image: Supplied.

For Jenn, LBL became a part of her life during her first pregnancy.

"I was an active jogger and noticed my runs were becoming a tour of public washrooms around my neighbourhood once I hit about four months pregnant," she tells Mamamia. 

While she recognises that there are some things, like physical activity, water and coffee, that tend to cause her experiences of LBL, she says that, "honestly, though, there's no real cause."

When thinking how LBL impacts her day-to-day life, Jenn admits that it can be challenging. 

"When making plans, my first question is always about access to a washroom. I get a bit panicked if we’re going somewhere where there won’t be one close by.

"It’s always on my mind when I’m drinking coffee or water and that I’ll need to be mindful of the bathroom situation and I have to plan ahead," Jenn explains.

To assist her LBL, Jenn has seen great value in physiotherapy.

"I see a pelvic floor physio and have noticed great improvement – from learning about how my body works down there and how to train muscles to react differently. 

"It’s an ongoing practice though and I know as I get closer to menopause my body will continue to change and likely weaken and I’ll need to keep working on it."

For Jenn, though, it was opening up about her LBL that helped her rebuild her confidence. 

"The solidarity of other women and speaking openly about these challenges has helped massively.

"It’s not sexy to admit you pee your pants sometimes or that you can't control your bladder and so many women (and probably some men) suffer in silence.

"We don’t talk about women’s intimate health enough and every time I’ve opened up about it, I’ve had someone share that they have the same challenges. Normalising these discussions with healthcare professionals and within our own networks will empower so many others to seek treatment and support."

Sienna, 33*

Sienna's first experience of LBL was a little different. 

"I started to experience it when I was 30, which was around the time I first started having sex," she tells Mamamia.

"For me, it's linked with my pelvic floor muscles. I get pain during sex so from what my female health physio tells me, it's related to that.

"What causes my LBL to happen is a sudden urge to go to the toilet which I need to attend to quickly otherwise the leakage occurs."

As a teacher, Sienna describes her LBL as stressful.

"At work, I do not have the luxury of going to the toilet whenever I like. So if I need to go, I make sure I am able to get someone to watch my class before the sudden urge comes as I don't want to be running past classrooms hoping I don't wet my pants," she explains. 

"I also have to plan going to the toilet in breaks, which can be difficult in my role as a teacher as I go from classroom to classroom, and I have to set up a lot of resources so I don't always have the time to go to the toilet."

Like Jenn, Sienna admits that her confidence grows when other women share their own experiences of LBL. However, she admits there is still a stigma around the issue.

"I tend to be more open about my pain during sex with my friends than my LBL. I think this is because peeing yourself is usually associated with being a kid and not an adult."

That's why Sienna thinks having conversations about it is so important. 

"What makes me more comfortable to talk with others about it is when they also talk about their own LBL." 

Melissa, 49

Melissa. Image: Supplied.

"LBL has crept up on me fast in the last year. Like most women my age, it's usually caused by unexpected fits of laughter, sneezing and more recently, since having COVID, during coughing fits," Melissa tells Mamamia.

She describes its onset as a "rude and unwanted shock", one that has meant she has had to make unwanted adjustments to her everyday life.  

"When I go out, I always have to make sure I wear a pad, keep a spare one in my handbag and be prepared for the unexpected. Not only do I get leakage, but I feel like I've lost all the muscles that used to keep it in control, to the point where I now need to go to the toilet frequently and very suddenly," she explains.

As well as being inconvenient, one episode of LBL recently created a very uncomfortable and embarrassing situation for Melissa.

"I [was] battling bronchitis that saw me literally coughing the entire day. With each cough came the unwanted leaks but one time during the night, I coughed so much I drenched the bed. My husband had to strip the bed in the middle of the night and remake it while I gathered any kind of dignity that I had left... consequently we now have a plastic mattress protector on the bed at all times."

After this experience, Melissa studied the options at her local supermarket to find a product that could help her regain her confidence again.

Melissa has also undergone more long-term treatments to help the severity of her LBL including regular pelvic floor exercises and a specialised yoga program. 

For Melissa, sharing her experiences and talking about the issue is also important in regaining confidence. For this, she finds solace in her girlfriends’ experiences and opinions but also believes more attention needs to be focused on the area of LBL.

"There needs to be more out there about how bloody hard it is being a woman and the changes we go through in this mid-life craziness," she says.

Poise 2-in-1 Washable Absorbent Underwear are specially designed to provide coverage for all your leaks, including period and bladder leaks, and feels just like your regular underwear. Shop them at your local supermarket and chemist.

*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the woman mentioned in the article.

Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.