Do you dread the everyday laugh, sneeze or cough due to fear that your bladder might give way? A new tampa-like product just launched in the U.S. could be what you’re looking for
They’re like a tampon but they’re not for when you’re on your period. Newly launched in the US, Impressa Bladder Supports are a new disposable product made for women with uncontrollable bladders and they target urinary incontinence by preventing leakage from happening rather than absorbing it.
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Specifically for women with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) which which affects a striking one in three UK women and leads to leaking urine when the pressure on the bladder is increased from things such as sneezing, coughing and laughing.
The products is inserted and disposed of in the same way as a tampon and its sole purpose is to prevent leakage.
According to the Bladder and Bowel Foundation, a striking one in three British women are affected by urinary incontinence. The problem often happens when the pelvic floor muscles are damaged or weakened – something that happens to a lot of women following childbirth or menopause.
How does it work?
The product is inserted and disposed of in the same way as a tampon and its sole purpose is to prevent leakage. It does this by gently lifting the urethra – the duct that carries urine out of the body – giving it the support it needs to stop leaks happening. It can be worn for up to eight hours daily and doesn’t even need to be taken out whilst urinating, meaning you don’t have to worry about changing it which is a bonus.
A diagram of how the Impressa pad works
Women that have used the product have reported their leaks to have either decreased or stopped completely
It’s only available to women over the age of 21 and comes in three different sizes to adapt to your unique internal shape which means there is a comfortable fit available for everyone. Women that have used the product have reported their leaks to have either decreased or stopped completely and 9 out of 10 women would recommend Impressa to a friend or family member.
Impressa is the first over-the-counter device in the U.S. that has been cleared for the temporary management of SUI by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – the regulating body for drugs and medical devices in the U.S. It is available to buy online here.
For more on urinary incontinence check out:
7 embarrassing symptoms not to ignore
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