Leave it to Whoopi Goldberg to make public a very private matter for one out of three women. She calls it “spritzing,” that embarrassing wetness that happens whenever a cough or a sneeze brings with it light bladder leakage (LBL). And she has signed on as a spokesperson for Poise protection to talk about a topic many women don’t want to talk about.
And in typical Whoopi fashion, she’s found humor in the situation. (Although, don’t laugh too hard unless you’ve already bought your supply of Poise napkins). In a webcast, the comedienne appears as famous women down through history who also suffered from LBL. Now we know what that Mona Lisa grimace was really about! Other ladies who also endured LBL (according to Whoopi) include Helen of Troy, Cleopatra, Lady Godiva, St. Joan of Arc, the Princess and the Pea (no pun intended), the Statue of Liberty, and Eve.
Although Whoopi is bringing humor to the issue, for many women the condition is no laughing matter. A survey from the Poise brand and Women’s Health Foundation (WHF), a non-profit organization committed to championing women’s pelvic health issues, shows that almost 60 percent of women do not talk about LBL with friends or family and almost 40 percent do not even talk to a health care professional. In fact, 70 percent of women with LBL were surprised to learn that LBL affects so many other women.
If anyone can reduce the stigma associated with LBL, it’s Whoopi. “Nobody ever wants to talk about LBL!” said Whoopi on the Poise website. “For some reason, we’ve decided there’s something taboo about it – but so many women experience it and we should be able to talk about it openly! Leaks don’t discriminate, we all go through it – I tell women this all the time.”
Although LBL is often thought to be something that afflicts older women, younger women who have bladder infections or are pregnant, also suffer. The Poise panty liners are being offered as providing better protection for LBL than sanitary products meant to be worn while menstruating.
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