On behalf of the WFIPP Executive Council, we are delighted to welcome the Portuguese Association for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Incontinence (APDPI) as a new member! We are thrilled to have them on board and look forward to working together to make a positive impact on our community and achieving great things together.

The Origin of APDPI

APDPI – the Portuguese Association for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Incontinence – was officially founded in January 2024, but its roots go back to February 2022, when we launched the Movimento pela Continência (Movement for Continence), marking the beginning of a collective mission to raise awareness about urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic floor dysfunction in Portugal.

As people living with these conditions, we turned our own pain into purpose — to break taboos, give a voice to those who suffer in silence, and show that dignity, visibility, and support are not only possible, but necessary.

Since then, we have worked consistently to promote awareness through media appearances and interviews, including features on Porto Canal, TVI, Rádio Renascença, and articles in Jornal Público, Revista Executiva, SAPO Online, SaúdeOnline, and Revista Activa.

APDPI was founded by three women with lived experience in this field: Joana Oliveira, Joana Paredes, and Rafaela Ferreira. Together, we created a space for support, education, and advocacy, aiming to promote health literacy and reduce the stigma associated with incontinence.

Our work is supported by the valued contribution of our clinical and technical board members: Dr. Ricardo Pereira, Dr. José Assunção, Dr. Mariana Pereira, Dr. Ana Lopes, and Carlos Leitão.

We have participated in important national events such as the Coloproctology Congress in Lisbon (2024), the Coloproctology Congress in Portimão (2025), the Continence Days of ULS Santa Maria, the APNEP Congress (2025), and the Women’s Health event by Revista Executiva (May 2025). We will also be present at the APNUG Congress in November 2025.

In parallel, we are working in partnership with Medtronic on a testimonial video project highlighting the personal and clinical journey of living with incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction. We are also developing an ongoing awareness campaign in collaboration with Ausonia Discreet, focused on urinary incontinence.

Now, in partnership with WFIPP, we proudly reinforce our shared commitment: to give visibility to pelvic health and to work for a more informed, empathetic, and inclusive society.

Joana Oliveira