Cost of Incontinence

How would you like to have an extra $6/wk (hello latte splurge)? On average, those with incontinence spend between $0 and $15 per week on incontinence products alone. The full range, depending on severity, is $0 - $100 per week! Some simple math puts the mean at $312 ($0-$780) per year. Not to mention, those with the most severe incontinence are spending upwards of $5200 per year. Notably, incontinence product use and cost is higher in those with greater unmet socioeconomic needs. For me, and I’m sure many of you, this money could be used in so many ways: savings, pay down debt, offset a vacation, childcare, caffeine, etc.

The cost of incontinence certainly reaches beyond incontinence products. Personal costs can include missed work, missed social outings, and reduction of exercise all from fears of leaking. 

Societal costs are also recognized as a potential economic burden. Potential costs include increased inpatient hospital stays, increased medical visits, surgeries to improve continence, physical therapy care, pharmacologic management, and cost of skilled nursing facility care. To quantify, in 2011, $12 billion was spent to manage stress urinary continence in the United States. In 2007, $66 billion was spent to manage urge urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the United States. Some of this cost passes directly to patients in the form of deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs, while much is then covered by various payors. I firmly believe that physical therapy as a first intervention for incontinence will likely demonstrate similar savings as physical therapy as first intervention for low back pain (27% lower costs when receiving physical therapy first and within 15 days).

Now tell me, why should I be concerned about the cost of incontinence?  Recent studies show the rate of incontinence is 25%-45%. Many agree the rate is at least 40% in females over 40 and may increase to over 70% in the later decades of life.  In 2023, the US population included 85 million women aged 40 and over. With those numbers, it is likely we all have someone in our life experiencing incontinence.

We are fortunate that many treatments exist to manage and treat incontinence.

These include:

Physical Therapy (that’s us)

Pharmacologic Management

Surgery

Physical Therapy can offer so much! Based on findings, your treatment will likely include: behavioral interventions, fluid and/or diet recommendations, pelvic floor muscle training, neurologic re-eduction to muscles, and a global posture movement analysis. Treatments can be in person or online to increase your access to care and education.

Pharmacologic management may include medications used to relax the bladder, reduce the bladder contractions, or in some cases temporarily paralyze the bladder (Botox). These all have their place, but like many medications, please ask your doctor and pharmacist about side effects.

Lastly, several surgical options exist. There are times when conservative management alone is not enough. In these cases, surgery can be life-changing, especially when coupled with physical therapy!

It is important to know that even 1-2 Pelvic Floor PT visits can greatly reduce your symptoms, improve your connection with your body, and improve your quality of life. Here’s how to find a Pelvic PT near you.

For those seeking alternative avenues, Pelvic Floored offers world-class streamable pelvic wellness programs, that you can work through at your own speed, in the comfort and privacy of your own home, for a fraction of the cost of one in person session. 

If an online course isn’t in the cards right now, no worries. At a minimum, please consider following along on Instagram, or joining the Newsletter for free, awesome tips. My VIPs (Very Important Pelvis) e-newsletter subscribers also get first notice and best prices on all my program, so don’t miss out - Join Today!

Best, 
Dr. Jen

Find a Pelvic PT Near You

Schedule an Appointment in-person or online!

Follow on Instagram

For every four online courses sold, one is donated to someone in need through our People Before Profits program. LEARN MORE