If you’ve been dealing with wet panties because of urinary incontinence but dreaming about dry ones, then wrap your mind around this:

Recent studies indicate that only about 50% of women suffering from urinary incontinence ever seek help, and only 23% of primary physicians ask their patients about this condition.

At the same time, the Agency of Healthcare Research and Policy indicates that urinary incontinence can be improved in 8 out of 10 cases.

What does this tell you? It should tell you that there is plenty of help available for women with wet panties, but only if they raise the issue. That’s why it is so important for you to be your own healthcare advocate when it comes to your urinary incontinence.

Five Steps to Being Your Own Healthcare Advocate
No one can be a better advocate for your health than you. Here are five simple steps you can take to become your own healthcare advocate.

Step 1: Find a Doctor
Today there are many healthcare professionals who specialize in treating women’s urinary incontinence. If you’re not sure how to find the right doctor, ask around. Word-of-mouth is still the most common way most women find doctors. You can also ask your primary physician for a referral. Read more about how to find the right doctor for you here.

Step 2: Be Specific About the Reasons for the Appointment
When you schedule the appointment, be sure to let the physician’s office that you wish to discuss your urinary incontinence, since statistics show that if you don’t raise the issue chances are that the doctor won’t either. You may also need to remind the nurse or doctor at the beginning of your appointment.

Step 3: List Your Primary Concerns
During your appointment, be sure to raise your primary concerns about treating your urinary incontinence because your doctor can’t read your mind. Whether your concerns are about the cost of treatment, fear of surgery, lack of success with prior surgeries, or the possibility that your situation may be more serious than just urine leakage, lay your cards on the table so your doctor can address these concerns.

Step 4: Communicate About Yourself and Your Life
You are an expert on your own life. Your doctor is an expert on medical therapies that can help with your urinary incontinence. Your appointment should be like a meeting between two experts. Communicate with your doctor about what kinds of therapies will and won’t fit into your lifestyle. For instance, if you want to improve your symptoms but are not ready for surgery, your doctor can recommend some conservative therapies for you.

Step 5: Decide Whether You Will Take Your Doctor’s Advice
Your doctor can help you improve your urinary incontinence symptoms only if you are willing to follow the suggested therapies. If you feel you can’t follow the suggested approach, be sure to let your doctor know. He or she might be able to suggest some alternative therapies, or you may need to find another healthcare specialist with a different approach.

As you have probably realized the keys to being your own healthcare advocate are to take the needed action steps and to communicate clearly during the entire process. There are many physicians who are experts on therapies to treat urinary incontinence, but you are the only expert when it comes to yourself and your lifestyle. That’s why it’s so important for you to be your own healthcare advocate.