World Continence Week: What It Means for People Who Menstruate
Date Created: 15 June 2025
Read Time: 5 minutes
World Continence Week is a global health initiative focused on raising awareness about bladder and bowel health. While the conversation often centres around incontinence, there is an important link between continence and menstruation that’s not talked about nearly enough. For people who menstruate, particularly those who are postpartum or experiencing changes in their pelvic floor, the type of period care they use can make a real difference.
This is where menstrual discs like my mimi offer more than just sustainability. They support comfort, confidence, and control. And during World Continence Week, it’s the perfect time to talk about the crossover between period care and pelvic floor health.
What Is Continence and Why Does It Matter?
Continence refers to the ability to control bladder and bowel functions. While it’s commonly discussed in older age groups, it also affects younger people, especially those who have given birth or have underlying pelvic floor issues. According to the Continence Foundation of Australia, over 5 million Australians experience bladder or bowel control problems.
For menstruating people, weakened pelvic floor muscles can affect both continence and how period products sit or perform in the body. This includes tampons, menstrual cups, and even some period undies that rely on firm placement.
Pelvic Floor Health & Menstrual Care: The Overlap
Your pelvic floor plays a major role in supporting your bladder, uterus and bowel. After childbirth or during perimenopause, these muscles can weaken, causing leaks and discomfort. It’s also common for people with PCOS or endometriosis to experience extra pressure or pain in this area.
Using the right menstrual product becomes important. Unlike tampons or cups, which rely more heavily on muscle tone to stay in place, my mimi menstrual discs rest in the vaginal fornix and tuck behind the pubic bone. This can be more comfortable and secure for people with pelvic floor issues.
What the Experts Say - Dr Jana Pittman
On 15 June 2025, Dr Jana Pittman joined the 3AW House of Wellness program to speak about the importance of breaking the stigma around incontinence. She urged people of all ages to speak openly about pelvic floor health:
“I want people to talk about it and to not be ashamed because it is really common, but it's actually not normal.”
Drawing on her experiences as both a gynaecology registrar and someone with personal experience of incontinence, Dr Pittman spoke about how continence challenges impact everyone from young adults to new parents and cancer survivors. She stressed the power of prevention and education:
“Imagine if we got our little younger girls to start doing their pelvic floor and explained what a prostate is to our young boys... the bottom line is it's having the conversation.”
She also raised concerns around medications used to manage symptoms, particularly for older adults, and the importance of early support:
“We just need people to be brave and step up and say, ‘Okay, I'm going to talk about this. I'm going to share this with my family.’”
Are Menstrual Discs Safe for People With Incontinence?
Yes. Menstrual discs are safe to use even if you experience light bladder leakage. They don’t block urine flow and they don’t interfere with continence aids. If you're managing pelvic floor challenges, it’s always a good idea to speak to a pelvic floor physiotherapist to find what works best for your body, but the disc’s position makes it a great option to consider.
Importantly, my mimi is both TGA-compliant and FDA-registered. Not all products in the Australian market can say the same. Some newer menstrual disc brands do not have safety approvals or regulatory checks, which is something to be aware of - especially if you have a medical condition or are postpartum. Brands sold at trusted national retailers like Chemist Warehouse and global platforms like Amazon offer peace of mind that safety checks are in place.
What to Look for in a Menstrual Product If You Have Pelvic Floor Issues
Comfort. Security. Ease of use. These three things matter most. That’s why my mimi has been carefully designed in two sizes, with a soft and flexible silicone body that adapts to your shape. There’s a small (32ml) and large (61ml) option, with the larger typically suited to people over 30 or who’ve had a vaginal birth.
The disc also features a unique loop tab for easy removal, making it gentler for people who may have reduced muscle strength or mobility. For those concerned about mess, the self-emptying feature can also help reduce bathroom stress, particularly if you’re managing bladder leaks as well.
Over a 5-year lifetime, the my mimi disc works out to be around 83 cents per month, making it a low-cost, low-waste alternative that doesn’t compromise on performance.
Talking About It Matters
There’s still a stigma around both period care and continence issues. That silence can make people feel isolated or unsure about their options. But as conversations grow around body literacy, it’s important to include how the right products can support your overall health.
By normalising pelvic floor conversations during World Continence Week, we also make room for better, safer period care solutions.
A Brand You Can Trust
my mimi launched in early 2024 and has since become one of Australia’s most trusted names in reusable period care. It’s been awarded the "Best Sustainable Period Care Solution in Australia 2025", chosen for its comfort, value, and thoughtful design.
As more brands enter the market, it's important to check if they are TGA-compliant and FDA-registered. A product that looks similar isn’t always tested to the same standards. Trust your body with brands that have gone through the correct channels - and that are available at trusted retailers like Chemist Warehouse.
Thousands of users across Australia, New Zealand and around the world are already making the switch. my mimi offers fast global shipping, a comprehensive care range, and a simple promise: period care that puts your comfort first.
