FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 24, 1997
CONTACT: MARK NAPLES, 202/955-6222
HARRIS POLL: 42% OF ALL ADULT WOMEN EXPERIENCE URINARY INCONTINENCE NEW, DOUBLE-PROTECTION PRODUCT ADDRESSES EMBARRASSMENT - CITED AS #1 CONCERN BY WOMEN SURVEYED
Washington, DC -- Long acknowledged as one of the most commonly closeted issues by women, urinary incontinence appears to be far more common than previously realized. Experts have estimated that as many as 14 million women experience occasional urinary incontinence. This is frequently a light, stress-related leakage occurring when women cough, sneeze, laugh and sometimes when they exercise. But a national Harris Poll indicates that the actual number of women who experience this uncomfortable inconvenience is far larger, with 42 percent of women surveyed reporting that they have had urinary incontinence themselves.
The general perception of urinary incontinence has long been that it affects only older women, and the Harris Poll respondents echoed that perception, with 47 percent reporting that incontinence is most likely to occur in women aged 62 and older. However, the Poll confirms that this perception is also different than reality -- in the poll, women 62 and older were less likely to report the problem than women aged 40-61.
"The Harris Poll demonstrates that many millions of women endure this frustrating condition silently, staying home and missing out on activities while closeting their incontinence," said Dave Conway, president of Cincinnati-based Intellitecs, the creators of a new panty and pad system called Compose (tm). "We've applied our years of experience managing this issue for hospital patients to the needs of today's women who are no longer willing to let the annoyance of bladder control problems limit their lives," said Conway.
The Compose (tm) system offers unique double protection against the uncomfortable wetness which results from incontinence. First, there's a thin, absorbent four-layer pad. Then, the second layer of protection is in the uniquely designed Compose (tm) panty, which actually absorbs moisture if the pad leaks - while staying dry next to skin and clothing. The comfortable, washable panty provides superior absorbency and leakage protection with a built-in, patented panel. Best of all, the real cotton blend panty looks, feels and wears like women's favorite panties.
The Harris Poll reveals that millions of women are motivated to purchase products for bladder control purposes. In fact, almost all of those surveyed (94 percent) said they would purchase a bladder control product that offers protection from wetness without leaking. This finding is in marked contrast against the 52 percent surveyed who claimed they would wait more than a week after experiencing urinary incontinence before contacting their doctors.
"Despite the fact that almost half of women surveyed experience urinary incontinence, and a majority say they would discuss it with their doctors, family and friends, the estimate of the number of women who experience this frustrating condition has clearly been too low. And, the age of the millions of women who bear this frustration certainly seems to be lower than most people would think," said Conway.
The Compose (tm) panty and pad system is a unique product for women with light to moderate incontinence because it combines the convenience of a disposable, absorbent pad with the comfort of a reusable, absorbent panty to give them double protection.
The Compose (tm) system is available at Walgreen Drug Stores.
The Harris Poll - Perceptions of Adult Women of Stress-Related Urinary Incontinence polled more than 500 women over the age of 18 in late April, 1997. A nationally representative sample was used, with a sampling precision equal to +/- 4.4 percent.
Intellitecs' parent company, Standard Textile, is the largest global supplier of reusable health care textiles, apparel, surgical gowns, incontinent products, decorative fabrics and other reusable medical textiles. Standard Textile created Intellitecs to bring their decades of leadership in hospital care fabric technology to the over-the-counter, home health care market. Intellitecs currently has more than 50 consumer products in various stages of development.
For more information, please call Mark Naples at 202/955-6222.
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