DALLAS — This month, Kimberly-Clark Corp. has begun making its new Poise Impressa Bladder Supports widely available in retail stores.

The new product, available online since February, is designed to help women with stress urinary incontinence stop leaks before they occur.

Inserted into the vagina like a tampon, Poise Impressa Bladder Supports gently lift and support the urethra, which helps to discreetly prevent urine from leaking for up to eight hours a day, according to Kimberly-Clark.

The company said the product marks the first over-the-counter, nonabsorbent internal product for the temporary management of stress urinary incontinence, which affects about 35 million women.

A common type of bladder leakage, stress urinary incontinence can be triggered by daily occurrences such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting or exercise. Until now, most women have had little choice but to absorb these leaks with pads and liners or resort to more invasive solutions such as surgery, Kimberly-Clark said.

“As the light incontinence category leader, the Poise brand continues to bring superior product innovations to market,” stated Jay Gottleib, president of adult and feminine care at Kimberly-Clark North America. “New Poise Impressa will change the category altogether and transform the lives of women with stress incontinence in a way they never thought possible by helping to prevent leaks instead of absorbing them afterwards.”

On Tuesday, Kimberly-Clark unveiled results of a new study conducted by Harris Poll for the Poise brand. The survey found that 65% of U.S. women ages 35 to 65 have experienced bladder leakage at some point. Sixty-six percent have experienced a leak after they coughed and 74% after they sneezed, both of which are stress urinary incontinence triggers.

The Poise Impressa Bladder Leakage Survey, which polled over 1,000 women, also revealed that 51% of respondents who have experienced bladder leakage have never spoken to anyone about the issue. What’s more, 49% said bladder leakage makes them feel embarrassed, 40% said it makes them feel old, and 37% said it makes them feel frustrated.

“We know consumers want to manage their bladder leakage in a way that allows them to live their most active, worry-free life,” stated Paula Winkel, senior director of Kimberly-Clark research and engineering. “By effectively translating deep consumer insights, we’ve introduced an innovation with Poise Impressa that changes the game in the light incontinence category.”

In addition, 81% of women polled who have experienced bladder leakage said they feel living a life without leaks would be priceless and want the freedom to live without worrying about their next leak. And 73% indicated that if they could prevent leaks before they happen, they would feel free to be active and do the things they love.

“The Poise brand is listening to women with bladder leakage and positively changing their lives with new Poise Impressa Bladder Supports,” commented Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a practicing OB/GYN, women’s health expert and founder of Her Viewpoint, an online women’s health community. “I treat many women with stress urinary incontinence in my practice and can now offer them an option that helps stops leaks, enabling them to do the activities they love instead of sitting on the sidelines.”

Poise Impressa Bladder Supports are available in three sizes that adapt to the unique internal shape of each woman’s body. Kimberly-Clark recommends that women should start with the Poise Impressa Sizing Kit to find the size that helps effectively stop their leaks and fits most comfortably.

“Women with bladder leakage are looking for options to help them discreetly and confidently manage this very common issue,” noted Dr. Jennifer Berman, a practicing urologist with specialized training in female urology and a recurring co-host on “The Doctors” television program. “With the introduction of new Poise Impressa Bladder Supports, I’m thrilled to see the Poise brand is giving women with stress incontinence a conservative, non-surgical product option that provides life-changing results.”

The launch of Poise Impressa is supported by an integrated marketing program that includes print, TV and online advertising, digital partnerships and retail support; the Real Women & Impressa video series, featuring the personal stories of real women with bladder leakage and their life-changing experiences with Poise Impressa; a panel of health and lifestyle experts — including Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Berman — to educate and empower women about bladder leakage and Poise Impressa; a series of Impressa product videos featuring Dr. Berman; and health care provider outreach.

The Poise brand, too, is donating $100,000 to the Women’s Health Foundation to advance work that fosters conversation about bladder leakage and creates communities for women. Missy Lavender, founder and executive director of the Women’s Health Foundation, also will participate in the expert panel.