While women's urinary incontinence is popularly believed to affect mostly mature women, a recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine demonstrates that urine leakage can affect much younger women, as well.

In fact, this new study shows that younger women affected by urinary incontinence are being forced to change the sports in which they participate, or give up sports altogether. The study focused on 679 Italian women, all of whom participated in non-competitive sports and were still having regular periods.

One in seven of the women surveyed (15%) indicated they suffered from urinary incontinence, and on average these women had been dealing with the symptoms for about 6 years. Of those affected:

- about half experienced symptoms during routine activities
- one-third had symptoms occur solely during sporting activities
- one-fifth claimed symptoms during both regular and sporting activities

Based on the study results, the riskiest sports for women, when it comes to urinary incontinence, are (in descending order): basketball, athletics, and tennis or squash. What's more:

- 10% of the women surveyed gave up their favorite sport because of their urinary incontinence
- 20% of women surveyed changed or limited their sporting activity to prevent further urine leakage issues

Wow! Those statistics include a large number of young women who can longer be as active as they once were because of urine leakage problems.

What's a Young Woman with Urinary Incontinence to Do?
Luckily, young women with urine leakage problems do have options and solutions. In younger women, urinary incontinence is most often the result of pelvic floor weakness. Strengthening these muscles by doing regular Kegels can make a big difference.

If you have been unable to participate in your favorite sporting event because of urine leakage accidents, consider doing Kegels as part of your rehabilitation program. Kegels tone and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which are the muscles that hold urine in the bladder until you are ready to urinate.

If you have never done Kegels, or you have done Kegels but feel they are not effective for you, you may want to download our ebook "What's Up Down There?" This ebook not only helps you determine the strength of your pelvic floor muscles, but also walks you through how to do a correct pelvic floor contraction (Kegel). Many women do Kegels, but incorrectly. This ebook helps you troubleshoot your Kegel contraction, and helps you do those contractions correctly. Kegels are both simple and effective once you learn to do them correctly.

Download the "What's Up Down There?" ebook here

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Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdanvers/4333969907/