wetting yourself - a feminist issue?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

If men became incontinent because of parenthood - we'd have clinics to help for them, right? On every street corner? [https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10157812967745659]

0www.incontinence.co.uk/what-percentage-of-the-population-are-affected-by-incontinence

If men pushed bowling balls out if their penises to further the species - suffered surgical cuts, or tears etc then humans wouldn't be expected to do it without pain relief and to the detriment of any sexual function and loss of continence

We're all different.....that includes women too. I've given birth three times....no pain relief; no cuts or tears........but still have some incontinence. I don't view that in a resentful way....for me it is just a fact of life in a female body. The female body is powerful and strong in its own way - and i've always appreciated that. and the recognition of female biological function and physicality is absolutely central to what makes me a feminist.

What bothers me is the my surgery has more female GPs than male yet none seem sympathetic towards female issues.

I could reel off countless examples of men having much better treatment and faster referrals than women from just talking to family and friends who use the same surgery.

Don't get me started about the GP who was adamant that HRT can only be prescribed as pills or patches or the other GP who stated the only women who want HRT are those who want to appear more attractive to younger men and that menopause and associated symptoms like incontinence only lasts four years.

WTF happened to sisterhood?

" the recognition of female biological function and physicality is absolutely central to what makes me a feminist."

I'm genuinely pleased for you and glad you love your body and the unique femininity it holds. I'm proud of mine too. I can also be annoyed when men catcall me on the street or grab me without invite.

I'm glad to be a woman but that doesnt always mean women treated as we deserve to be, medically or otherwise.

@agentnully because the acceptance of female suffering is deeply engrained in our healthcare system.

My mums Post birth complications were finally resolved when my youngest brother was 27, she had many trips to the doctors and even got a kettle machine thing until eventually doc went ‘you know what we can fix this’ ... he was male.

1 in 3 women will suffer incontinence. It's only 10% of men over 65.

Yes, mainly because men don't have babies, as well as some hormonal issues.

That does not tell us that if they did, somehow there would be better remedies for the resulting difficulties. It's clearly sci-fi land, but I daresay if men did push bowling balls out of their penises there would be significant long term effects of one kind or another.

I read something the other day that they plan to introduce a more thorough physical and mental checks for new mothers in England at 6 weeks, but it’s still only one quick appointment. It is frustrating that it’s one of biggest events that your body has to go through, and after it, you are responsible for looking after a totally helpless little human being, but very little time is spent making sure you are OK.

...still have some incontinence. I don't view that in a resentful way....for me it is just a fact of life in a female body

Justhadathought While I agree with you that part of being a feminist is appreciating the amazing strength of female bodies, more can and should still be done to make sure we’re OK afterwards. I have a friend who is a physiotherapist who deals primarily with incontinence problems, predominantly suffered by women after pregnancy, and she is always talking about the lack of support we have in this country compared to places like France. She also gets quite annoyed at the assumption that it’s normal. It’s very common but isn’t normal and is treatable.

I gave birth in France and got 15 sessions with a women's health physio as standard (could have had more if needed) then 15 for abdominal retraining, again, as standard and more could be had if the physio (or midwife for first 15 as midwives can offer that postnatally).

My French MIL was shocked that we considered urinary incontinence to be an inevitable consequence of birth.

My French FIL had prostate cancer and was also referred to a pelvic floor physio as a standard part of his recovery.

Interesting to know that Tena has its fingers in the NHS. I can't remember the details right now, but I read about it a good five years ago and was appalled.

Incontinence is a very lucrative business.

And one reason seeing a physio who works with pelvic floors is worth its weight in gold is because you can find out if:
a) you're not doing kegels correctly
b) that kegels aren't the saviour we've been led to believe they are
c) if you problem isn't that your pelvic floor is too loose but can't work properly because it's too tight (stressed,under too much tension)
d) can help with certain lower back pain that appears untreatable
e) better functioning pelvic floor muscles = better sex

The French have been doing it for decades, I think the Belgians and Dutch also have it as normal, but not blanket applied to every single woman, more if they need/ask for it. It definitely can be helped in a great many women and isn't.

And it is a feminist issue because it limits how mothers interact with their kids. Pelvic floor physio can halt smaller prolapses. These are women's health issues. And since when have women's health issues not been a feminist issue?

So the French think it’s worth investing in post partum women’s health. As I said upthread, I wish we - we as in the UK - stopped accepting incontinence as normal.

In many cases it can be improved/fixed, resulting in better mental and physical health. Incontinence also affects people’s ability to work, have a social life and has a huge impact on their lives.

And now I’m really pissed off - forgive the phrase - that my predictive text doesn’t recognise incontinence and so I’ve had to type it out each time.

My personal pet issue - pelvic girdle pain.

If men were to suffer with a condition that made them feel like they'd been, to use my physio's description, repeatedly kicked in the crotch by a steel toecapped boot, to the point they ended up on crutches and trussed up with so much elasticated tubigrip that I used to fear I'd catapult myself into space if I sat down too fast... you bet there'd be more awareness and money to research it - they'd probably have a Crotchtober awareness month and everything. They'd get more than some tubigrip and a group physio session about keeping your legs together getting out of the car!

But because women... babies... feeling it's somewhat self inflicted - nada. (I still suffer now 7 years after the baby is now a stroppy pre-teen)