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IT’S SOMETHING WOMEN in Ireland are often reluctant or embarrassed to talk about – but a new study from Trinity College has found that urinary incontinence (leaking urine) is a common problem during – and after – pregnancy.
More than one in three women leak urine during early pregnancy, according to the research by the School of Nursing an Midwifery at TCD.
Almost one on five experience the problem once a month or more frequently.
After childbirth, around 50 per cent of women said they were still leaking some amount of urine. Even after six months, one in five women said they still leaked urine once a month or more frequently.
Women with a high BMI are more likely to experience it during pregnancy – and women who are obese are four times more likely.
“The key message for women is that leaking urine is common, but it is not normal and can be treated,” Trinity’s Dr Deirdre Daly said.
Far too many women put up with urinary leakage during and after pregnancy because they think it is ‘normal’ or ‘to be expected’.
“The reality is that leaking urine can make some women miserable; while it affects them physically, it can also affect them emotionally and socially and affect the way women interact with their partner.”
Some women stop exercising or socialising because they are afraid of the problem being noticed by others, Daly said.
“Unfortunately, and partly because we have no information on leaking urine in pregnant women or new mothers in Ireland, many women who leak urine think they are alone.
This can make women feel isolated, embarrassed and reluctant to talk about it or to seek help.
The reality is the issue can be addressed through routine antenatal care, said Daly.
If more women came forward to ask for help “some of these women could become or stay continent, which would have huge benefits for their quality of life.”
The research, carried out as part of the wider Maternal Health And Maternal Morbidity in Ireland study, found that one in three women leak urine occasionally before becoming pregnant and one in twelve leak urine once a month or more frequently.
MAMMI
The MAMMI project – which is being launched today, and is funded by the Health Research Board, will follow more than 2,600 women through their pregnancy, and for a year after the birth of their first baby.
Information will be gathered on a range of health issues – including anxiety, stress and depression; domestic violence; c-sections; and diet and activity during pregnancy.
The study group represents almost 10 per cent of all first-time mothers giving birth in Ireland in a given year.
The researchers say it’s being done because a lack of information on women’s health after childbirth often hampers doctors’ understanding of what causes common problems – like pain, urinary and bowel problems; changes affecting sexual and emotional health; and difficulties with partners.
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If you want an objective case for why animal testing is bad science, then I suggest you check out the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine in America. You can’t use different species, with differences in DNA and physiology to adequately trial human medicine. Computer based simulation is superior and more ethical. One of the main reasons for animal testing is securing and retaining research funds. http://www.pcrm.org.
Didn’t think this kind of thing still went on. It would be really interesting to see listed what organisations are doing this and why. Particularly when you see dogs listed…..
@Peter B: I agree, but why just when you see dogs mentioned? I have pet rats and rats are so soulful, sensitive, emotional, loving family orientated and super intelligent! I don’t understand why animal testing still needs to be done, other than testing medications meant for that particular species where you need placebo versus real med comparison, plus how well it helps the animal it’s aimed at, the toxicity, therapeutic dosage etc.
In essence, only do trials on species something is meant for. So if it’s for humans, get human volunteers. There is always plenty of volunteers willing to take part in trials.
Get my drift.
So yes, there is a small need for animal testing, but only to help improve or come up with new and better meds for animals of their own species.
@Lilly Passet-De Nais: yes totally agree…
Maybe we could do the testing on the “ activists “ – I’m sure they would be queuing up to volunteer .
In other news, testing on humans has gone up to 90% of the adult population
@David O’Rourke: Oh I see what you did there
Before medicines can proceed to clinical trials in humans the vast majority of them first have to be tested in animals (pre-clinical studies). So for anyone on their high horse (pun intended) saying no animal testing should be conducted, they should think twice the next time they take an over-the-counter medicine or fill a prescription.
Does anyone have recommendations for male and female products not tested on animals on the shelves in Ireland?
@Niall Mullane: Simple skincare don’t test, that’s just off the top of my head – but any products that don’t test will have a vegan/animal cruelty label. Think it’s a bunny
@Sam Kendlin Hobbs: thank you
Animal testing is not only incredibly cruel, it’s also an unreliable and outdated research method. Over 90% of drugs that are effective in animal testing fail in human clinical trials.
‘Severe’ experiments on live animals increased in Ireland have actually increased year on year since 2017, has also been stated in the journal before to the best of my knowledge.
It’s really about time the Irish government ended its utterly unacceptable severe animal cruelty and devised a strategy to honour its legal and moral duties to reduce animal suffering in Irish laboratories, as the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society (IAVS) has states before. Thus Ireland should aim to phase-out animal testing all together as soon as possible. The Irish Govt should be transparent and provide a clear timeline for this.
Recently the European Parliament just voted in favor of developing an action plan to end experiments on animals. Members of the European Parliament (MEP) supported a motion for a resolution to accelerate the transition to scientific innovation without the use of animals in research, regulatory testing, and education.
Hoping the the Irish govt follow suits of this, and hope it doesn’t wait until this action plan comes into force?
Kind paw regards, Gerben Uunk, co-founder Party for Animal Welfare (PAW). A registered political party in Ireland since February 2020. Several of our sister animal advocacy party’s across the world have MP’s.
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