What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling, vision problems, and difficulty with balance or coordination.1

Portrait photo of Sara, a Coloplast Care Advisor. People living with MS can experience bladder and bowel issues.

What symptoms can be overlooked?

A hidden symptom of MS that is often overlooked is experiencing bladder or bowel issues. In fact, 4 in 5 people living with MS are affected by bladder issues at some point in their life, 2 and more than 7 out of 10 will experience some degree of bowel issue.3

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Do you want to learn more about how your MS may be impacting your bladder and bowel, possible symptoms of a bladder or bowel issue, and what solutions are out there to help you better manage your condition?

I didn't realise the bladder was linked to the disease. Our bodies are so good at adapting, I didn't notice there were any bladder problems. For me, it was completely normal to go to the toilet every half hour.

Kristoffer

Living with MS

Image of Kristoffer, sitting in his living room. Multiple sclerosis can disrupt your bladder function and lead to bladder issues.

When I went for appointments with my nurse, she would ask me, ‘How is your bladder? or ‘How is your bowel?’ and I would just say ‘okay’, because to me it was okay.

Laura I Living with MS

Portrait photo of Laura. Multiple sclerosis can disrupt your bladder and bowel function and lead to bladder and bowel issues.

How does MS affect the bladder?

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How do I know if I have issues with my bladder or bowel?

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What happends during a bladder examination?

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What solutions are there?

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