Female incontinence is not a disease in itself, but rather a symptom that can usually be treated effectively, an expert has claimed.

Dr Dexter Arrington is an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor at Silver Cross Hospital in Illinois, US.

He regularly sees women who are ashamed of their reliance on incontinence pads, such as Tena Lady, but insists there is no need for embarrassment as the condition is very common.

Dr Arrington told the Herald News: "Urinary incontinence isn't a disease, it's a symptom.

"It can be produced by everyday habits, underlying medical conditions or physical problems."

Fortunately for the millions of women who experience bladder weakness and incontinence, there are effective treatments.

Surgical treatments can often be carried out as outpatient procedures, removing the need for hospital stays.

However, doctors usually recommend a number of lifestyle changes before considering surgery.

These include reducing your caffeine intake, drinking six to eight glasses of water a day, losing weight if necessary and doing pelvic floor muscle exercises.