Bladder and bowel control issues affect around 7.2 million people in Australia, yet many people wait four to six years before seeking help.*
Despite how common it is, many people do not seek help because they feel embarrassed or assume incontinence is an inevitable consequence of ageing, childbirth or surgery.
The reality is that incontinence is common, but it is treatable and sometimes can even be cured.
As one of the most accessible healthcare professionals in any community, pharmacists are well placed to identify continence concerns early and guide people towards support.
Continence Health Australia, the national peak body for bladder and bowel control health, works to break down stigma and encourage earlier help‑seeking through education, resources and services such as the free National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66).
Leanne's journey
Melbourne-based counsellor and advocate Leanne Murphy understands firsthand the impact continence issues can have on daily life.
Following a catastrophic fourth‑degree tear during the birth of her second child, Leanne underwent multiple surgeries and was fitted with a temporary ileostomy bag.
“After my surgeries, and the reversal of the bag, my ‘good outcome’ still rendered me faecally incontinent,” she says.
“It took six to seven years to regain bowel control while my nerve endings reconnected to the new tissue — a very long time to struggle daily with pads, creams, pain and isolation.”
Like many people living with continence issues, Leanne experienced not only physical challenges but also a loss of confidence and increasing social isolation.
Looking back, she says she didn’t know where to turn for support and spent years managing her symptoms alone.
Today, through her work supporting women affected by birth trauma and related health challenges, she encourages people not to suffer in silence.
“It is so common and you are not alone,” she says.
“You would be surprised just how many people on your street are dealing with something similar.”
Pharmacists can help
Pharmacist and continence management expert Brad Butt says one simple conversation can make a difference.
“Never underestimate the impact of a simple conversation,” he says.
“By proactively and sensitively discussing continence concerns, pharmacists can help reduce stigma, encourage earlier intervention, and significantly improve a person’s quality of life.”
Brad says pharmacists are often the first healthcare professional someone approaches with continence concerns.
Their accessibility and expertise in both medication and condition management places them in a unique position to identify contributing factors, provide practical advice and connect consumers with appropriate treatment and referral pathways.
Continence concerns can arise at many life stages, from pregnancy, childbirth and menopause through to recovery following prostate surgery.
Brad says pharmacists are well placed to provide education on bladder and bowel health, lifestyle changes and medication‑related causes of symptoms, while identifying when a referral to a GP, nurse continence specialist or pelvic health physiotherapist may be beneficial.
For people experiencing symptoms for the first time, choosing a continence product can feel overwhelming.
Brad says pharmacists can help identify products which suit a person’s type and severity of incontinence, lifestyle and preferences, considering factors such as absorbency needs, mobility, dexterity, skin health, comfort, discretion and cost.
Support is available
When additional support is required, pharmacists, consumers and carers can call the National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66).
Staffed by nurse continence specialists, the free and confidential service provides advice on bladder and bowel control health, continence products, samples, funding assistance and referral pathways.
Continence Health Australia also provides a range of free resources to support people at risk of, or living with continence issues, including fact sheets, resources and the National Public Toilet Map.
The map helps users locate more than 25,000 public toilets across Australia and can be valuable for people planning outings, travel and day‑to‑day activities.
Leanne says she only became aware of the National Continence Helpline years after her injury and believes more people need to know support is available.
“It’s an invisible condition, and sometimes people will do anything other than admit they need help, but just one time they might take the number down and ring.”
Financial assistance may be available for eligible consumers through programs such as the Australian Government’s Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS), which provides an annual payment of AUD 739.40 to help bridge the cost of continence products.
Additional state and territory funding may also be available. The National Continence Helpline can provide advice on funding options and eligibility.
Pharmacists can also access multidisciplinary education through Continence Health Australia’s webinars, Professional Development Days and annual National Continence Health Conference.
Did you know?
Bladder and bowel control conditions affect one in four Australians, yet it’s a topic few people talk about.
