Why is urinary health still so difficult to talk about?

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My own experiences of urological illness have shown me just how profoundly urinary and bowel problems can affect everyday life. They have also shown me how much embarrassment and stigma still surround some of the most basic things our bodies do.

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Millions of people live with urological conditions, yet conversations about bladder health, bowel health, UTIs, incontinence and other intimate symptoms can still feel uncomfortable. Too often, people suffer quietly, feel embarrassed about asking for help, or simply don't know where to turn for trusted information and support.

I wanted to turn some of my own experiences into something positive.

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That is why I created Oui.

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Oui began as a blog with a simple belief: that talking openly about urinary and bowel health can make things better. Better understanding can challenge stigma. Better awareness can help people recognise when something isn't right. Lived experience can help shape research and healthcare. And nobody should ever feel ashamed of the basic functions of their own body.

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Since then, Oui has rather unexpectedly grown into something more. Through our articles, awareness work, collaborations and Oui bracelets, we're finding different ways to start conversations and bring together patients, researchers, healthcare professionals and others who share the same ambition for better urinary health.

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Oui is not a registered charity. Nor is Oui a business.

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It is an independent awareness initiative. Oui does not collect charitable donations for itself. Instead, our fundraising supports The Urology Foundation, with donations made directly to the charity through our JustGiving page.

 

We're only getting started.

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My hope is that Oui can help create a world in which urinary and bowel health are understood, talked about openly and taken seriously — while championing the research and people working to improve care for the future.

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Thank you for being part of the conversation.

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Everyone wees. Nobody should be embarrassed to talk about it.

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Oui. Together, We Can.

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Georgina Watson