How to get involved in World Continence Week 2025

Mary-Lynne Van Poelgeest-Pomfret

President, World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP)

World Continence Week (WCW) returns this year from June 16 to 22, aiming to raise awareness around incontinence, both urinary and faecal, and the real impact it has on people’s lives.

It’s about more than just a medical issue. It’s about mental health, cost of care, the environment and most importantly, breaking the stigma that still surrounds it.

Global awareness through resources

Organised by the World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems (WFIPP), WCW has become a global movement over the past nine years. Each year, WFIPP provides a free toolkit to help people get involved. This year’s kit includes nine visual resources, available in English with options for translation, that anyone can share to help spread the word.

Incontinence affects far more people
than most realise: one in three women
and one in 10 men, across all age groups.

Incontinence demands urgent action

Incontinence affects far more people than most realise: one in three women and one in 10 men, across all age groups. It’s not just an issue for older adults. Young women may experience it after childbirth or menopause, while men can be affected following prostate cancer treatment. The financial burden is significant as well. In 2023, urinary incontinence alone cost the EU an estimated €69 billion. If no action is taken, that number could rise to €86 billion by 2030.

That’s why WFIPP is pushing for more action. One key milestone this year is the launch of a Patient Decision Aid for Overactive Bladder, with another for faecal incontinence coming soon. WFIPP is also actively involved in EU-wide projects like PROCON, which focuses on continence care in care homes and is helping shape new policy discussions in the European Parliament.

Continence should matter to everyone

However, real change takes more than toolkits and research. It takes all of us: patients, families, doctors, researchers, policymakers and everyday people speaking up, sharing stories and pushing for better treatment and understanding — because yes, Continence Matters. It’s time we all started talking about it.