Are you tired of dealing with wet panties from urinary incontinence?

You're not the only one.

One in four women over the age of 18 has suffered from urinary incontinence. The good news is that the New Year is just around the corner, which makes it the perfect time to set your New Year's Resolution.

Resolve to solve your urinary incontinence this coming year! Instead of waiting the epic seven years it takes the average woman to seek help, do it now. Pronounce this New Year your year for getting help.

Seven Steps Towards a New Year of Dry Panties
To fulfill your New Year's resolution, you are going to need some help. Can't figure out what to do? Here are seven steps to get you from wet panties to dry ones. You may have already taken a few of these steps, but faltered before you fully solved your urinary incontinence issues. Read through these steps and see which ones you need to get help for your urinary incontinence.

#1: Know Thyself
No one knows your symptoms of urinary incontinence better than you. If you are going to get help this coming year, you need to be able to "tell your story" to your doctor. One of the best ways to do this is to keep what is called a "voiding journal." For a few days, jot down the following:

- when, how much, and what kinds of fluids you drink
- when and how many times you urinate during the day
- how many times a day you experience leakage, how much you leak, and under what conditions (such as coughing or sneezing, or during the night)

Also keep track of any other health issues and symptoms, even if you don't think they are related to your urinary incontinence.

#2: Find a Doctor and Schedule an Appointment
A staggering number of women get stuck here ... staring at the phone, unable to make the call. Just thinking about discussing their urinary incontinence with a doctor embarrasses many women. Don't let embarrassment (or anything else) stop you. First, find a doctor (click here for the best way to do that), and then schedule an appointment. Most importantly, be sure to specify that your appointment is for urinary incontinence. That will ensure that you will actually discuss urinary incontinence when you go to your appointment.

#3: Get a Diagnosis and Get Your Questions Answered
Once you have committed yourself to getting help by scheduling an appointment, make the most of it. To ensure that you get the help you need drag a gal pal with you to your appointment if you have to. Answer the doctor as honestly and fully as you can, and get a true diagnosis of your condition (read about the different kinds of urinary incontinence here). Plus be sure to get every one of your own questions answered.

#4: Try Conservative Therapy
This resolution is for those of you who think conservative therapy is like trying to plug a leaking dam with your thumb: ineffective. You might be surprised at how far medicine has come, and how many conservative therapy options are available. Ask your doctor about the latest and greatest in conservative therapy, and try one. If it doesn't improve your symptoms, ask for more help. For instance, you may be doing your Kegels faithfully but incorrectly. Hands-on help from a physical therapist can help you learn to engage the correct muscles, making this therapy much more effective.

#5: Combine Conservative Therapies
Sometimes one type of therapy alone isn't enough to improve your symptoms. If you have tried single therapies, like doing Kegels or using medication, with little result, your doctor may recommend combining therapies. Not every therapy works for every woman or every type of urinary incontinence, but often combining therapies can vastly improve your symptoms. For instance, watching what you eat and drink, taking medication, and doing Kegels consistently may help where a single therapy will not.

#6: Consider Surgery
Going under the knife can be a scary thought, but these days many kinds of surgery for urinary incontinence are minimally-invasive outpatient procedures with short recovery periods. More importantly, the results are effective. Read Helen's story to learn more.

#7: Do Something, Darn It!
Last but not least, whichever of these steps applies to you and your urinary incontinence, the most important step is to take action. Don't suffer through another year of wet panties. Take action. Do something. Get help. Be a strong advocate for your own healthcare. If nothing else, start by learning about urinary incontinence in the privacy of your own home:

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