Balasore, Odisha – Urinary incontinence is emerging as a pressing but under-discussed health issue in India, and the district of Balasore is no exception. As per recent estimates, nearly 15 million women across India are expected to be affected by 2025, with a growing share of cases emerging from smaller towns and semi-urban regions of Odisha. Yet, only 12% of those affected currently seek medical help, primarily due to stigma, lack of awareness, and misconceptions around the condition.
Urinary incontinence, which causes the involuntary leakage of urine, significantly impacts a person’s quality of life—causing discomfort, emotional distress, and social withdrawal. The condition is more prevalent among women, especially those who have undergone childbirth, menopause, or experience age-related weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. In areas like Balasore, where discussions around intimate health issues remain taboo, women often continue to suffer in silence.
“Urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging or womanhood—it is a treatable medical condition,” says Dr. Narayan Chandra Behera, MS (Surgery), MCh (Urology), Consultant Urologist & Lapro-Endoscopic Surgeon, Balasore, Odisha. “In my experience treating patients across Odisha, I have seen that most women do not speak up until the condition severely affects their daily routine. By then, treatment becomes more complex. Early intervention is absolutely critical. With timely diagnosis, even simple lifestyle changes or pelvic floor exercises can significantly improve symptoms. But for that to happen, we need to break the silence and bring urinary health into mainstream conversation—especially in tier-2 and tier-3 towns like Balasore.”
Dr. Behera emphasizes that healthcare providers also have a role to play in creating safe, non-judgmental spaces for patients to share their symptoms. “We must listen with empathy and ensure our women know that they are not alone, and that help is available—often closer than they think,” he adds.
In Balasore and surrounding areas, local hospitals and urology clinics are now equipped to offer a wide range of treatment options. These include conservative approaches like bladder training, pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) exercises, and dietary adjustments; medical devices such as vaginal pessaries and catheters; and pharmacological treatments like anticholinergic medications, beta-3 agonists, and topical estrogen. For more severe cases, advanced procedures including Botox injections, sling surgeries, bulking agent therapies, and nerve stimulation devices are also accessible in tertiary care centers.
Despite the availability of treatment, public awareness remains low. Many women still view urine leakage as a personal failure or something to be endured quietly. In rural Odisha, myths and misinformation often lead women to avoid medical consultation until their condition becomes debilitating.
To address this, public health experts are calling for district-level awareness campaigns, inclusion of urinary health education in primary care training, and stronger outreach through community health workers. These steps are especially crucial in districts like Balasore, where healthcare access is growing but still faces challenges related to literacy, affordability, and cultural stigma.
As India moves closer to 2025, the message from Odisha’s medical community is clear: urinary incontinence is treatable, and early diagnosis can change lives. What is needed now is collective action—from doctors, families, community leaders, and media—to normalize conversations around bladder health and empower individuals to seek help without shame.