When Women’s Urinary Incontinence Messes with Your Intimacy

Does this sound familiar?You excuse yourself several times during a dinner date to go to the bathroom. You avoid sex to prevent the embarrassment of leaking urine at “the big moment.” You keep postponing a romantic trip because you are afraid you won’t be able to find bathrooms when you really need them.

All of these situations may seem perfectly normal to you if you are coping with urinary incontinence, but they may cause your significant other to wonder if the relationship is headed for a breakup.

Yikes! What’s a gal to do? Don’t panic. Instead, spend some time talking with your significant other about your urinary incontinence problem.

How to Talk with Your Significant Other
While talking to your partner about urinary leakage certainly isn’t the most romantic topic in the world, it can certainly put your mind at ease … not to mention keep your partner from wondering why you are acting so strangely! There are two things you can do to make the conversation easier:

1. Choose the right moment to raise the issue
2. Be careful, thorough, and patient in your explanation

Choosing the Right Moment
Let’s take the first point-choosing the perfect moment. Since discussing your urinary incontinence issue an important topic, you want to pick a time when you have your partner’s undivided attention. For instance, a quiet walk in the park or a private lunch at home would both be good times to raise the issue. You might want to avoid bringing up the subject as you head into the bedroom. Also avoid raising the topic over the phone because silences are difficult to interpret if you can’t see your partner’s face!

Explain Carefully
Once you start the conversation with your partner, describe your symptoms carefully and simply. Explain how these symptoms impact your life, and how you cope with these symptoms. You will also want to tell your partner about the steps you are taking to treat your urinary incontinence, whether you are participating in physical therapy, using medication, or considering surgery.

If you feel embarrassed discussing the subject, write a list of talking points. This will help you get through the conversation without skipping any important information. Finally, give your partner a chance to ask questions, and answer as honestly as you can.

Honesty Helps
While talking about women’s urinary incontinence isn’t very romantic, having the discussion can really deepen your relationship with your partner. You’ll probably be surprised … urinary leakage is most likely “no big deal” to your partner. And, as they say, “Honesty is the best policy.”

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