Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s Center Welcomes Olympic Gold Medalist Bonnie Blai

Blair to Speak About Incontinence, Affecting Half of Women Over 65

Falls Church, VA – (November 7, 2007) — Five-time Olympic gold medalist Bonnie Blair will speak at a breakfast  event at Inova Fairfax Hospital on Nov. 14 to generate awareness about Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) and the various treatment options. This mother of two, better known to the world as the “fastest woman on ice,” suffered from SUI after the birth of her first child. Embarrassed and unsure who to talk to, Blair endured the condition for months, until she found the courage to speak with her doctor and eventually found a solution.

WHAT:
Breaking the Ice About SUI with Bonnie Blair

WHEN:
November 14
8 – 9 a.m.

WHERE:
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Physician’s Conference Center, Lower Level
3300 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA

One out of three women over the age of 45 and half of women over the age of 65 lives with incontinence. Blair is traveling around the country to help spread the word about SUI in the hopes that women will not be afraid to talk about the condition and will seek treatment. She  tried different treatment options, including Kegel exercises, weights, and electrical stimulation to strengthen her pelvic muscles. After seeing little improvement, Blair chose a minimally-invasive device, GYNECARE TVT Tension-free Support for Incontinence.

At this free breakfast event for Inova employees, attendees will hear Blair’s personal story about her struggle with SUI, and with the direction of Jeffrey Welgoss, MD, Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s Center, will learn about the secrets to achieving and maintaining bladder health.

Bonnie Blair’s Breaking the Ice about SUI campaign is sponsored the ETHICON Women’s Health and Urology, a division of ETHICON, Inc.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit health care system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services including emergency and urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community we serve through excellence in patient care, education and research.