Conservative MSP Annie Wells says that research in the USA shows that women wait on average six and a half years before they seek advice of a medical professional. It is four years for men.

She says this is due to "embarrassment and shame".

Ms Wells says: "Many adults with the condition attempt to tackle it themselves, often with inappropriate measures, making it worse."

The expert at the centre of a review group looking at the safety of mesh implants in Scotland spoke for the first time in September about why he resigned.

Dr Wael Agur told BBC Scotland he believed patient safety was being put at risk.

He said mesh should only be used in exceptional circumstances due to the risk of "irreversible" damage.

The Scottish government said no evidence had been deleted or hidden from the review group's report.

Transvaginal mesh implants are medical devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence in women, conditions that can commonly occur after childbirth.

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Image source, Thinkstock

In October, Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton put forward a motion to parliament.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: "Ask anyone what their greatest fears are and incontinence is likely to feature in their top five. Yet we struggle to talk about it as a society.

"There’s a view that it’s only linked with old age or infirmity but it has the potential to affect all age groups and demographics.

"The tragedy is that all too few Scots who suffer the condition take steps to get help and this can have a massive wider impact in terms of depression, anxiety and social isolation.

"There’s an economic cost to dealing with incontinence as well. We don’t know the exact figures for Scotland but Australia have calculated that it costs their country over £5,000 per person, per year.

"There are steps that we can take, right now to improve this picture and that is why I’m calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a national continence strategy as a matter of urgency."

Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks all parties to "put aside our hang ups on the issue".

He says: "Statistics show it has a bigger impact on quality of life than any other condition."

Mr Cole-Hamilton suggest there could be a link between the condition and suicide, saying "we cannot afford to ignore this link."

The parliament will now debate a motion from Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton on Incontinence in Scotland.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Monica Lennon

When MSP Monica Lennon was due to get married her father's drinking was so bad she decided not to invite him.

She told BBC Scotland's Kaye Adams programme she loved her father and tried for years to "fix him".

During First Minister's Questions in September, she dispensed with the statistics on the harm caused by alcohol and instead shared the story of her father Gerry's addiction and his death from alcohol abuse at the age of 60.

She told MSPs: "Too often, families only break their silence about drug or alcohol harm after they have buried their loved ones. I know because two years ago my dad died as a result of alcohol harm."

Ms Lennon's message to parliament was that people affected by alcohol harm matter and "they are not to blame".

Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks the First Minister, in light of it being Alcohol Awareness Week, whether she will provide an update on what action the Scottish government is taking to reduce alcohol harm.

Mr Swinney says yesterday's judgement from the Supreme Court that minimum unit pricing was legal and this will be taken forward shortly by the government.

Ms Lennon joins Mr Swinney in welcoming the Supreme Court decision.

She congratulates the government for pursuing minimum pricing but says it is not enough alone.

Mr Swinney says he is enormously proud of the tenacity of the ministers that have brought about the minimum pricing decision.

He says: "I am so delighted that this parliament and this government held its nerve and won the Supreme Court judgement.

The deputy first minister acknowledges Moncia Lennon's personal interest in this issue having lost her father.

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland can set a minimum price for alcohol, rejecting a challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Legislation was approved by the Scottish Parliament five years ago but has been tied up in court challenges.

In a unanimous judgment, seven Supreme Court judges said the legislation did not breach European Union law.

The judges ruled the measure was a "proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim".

Ministers said a 50p-per-unit minimum would help tackle Scotland's "unhealthy relationship with drink" by raising the price of cheap, high-strength alcohol.

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Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton asks the what action the government will take in light of reports that one in 10 shops are lying empty and fewer people are visiting high streets.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney points to actions being taken by the government to improve the vibrancy of town centres, including the Small Business Bonus scheme.

Ms Hamilton attacks the Large Business Supplement which she says hits family run businesses.

Mr Swinney again highlights the sustained measures the government is taking to support town centres.

Prime Minister Theresa May says she will "look at " the issue of Police Scotland and other emergency services paying VAT.

Local police and fire services were exempt from VAT but this ended with the creation of national bodies in Scotland in 2013.

Other territorial services in the UK remain exempt.

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SNP MSP Bruce Crawford asks what representations the Scottish government is making to the UK government ahead of the Autumn Budget

Mr Swinney says the finance secretary wrote to the chancellor last week calling for a reversal of plans to impose £3.5bn further cuts on Scotland.

Mr Crawford raises the issue of the payment of VAT on our police and fire services and asks if the money already paid should be paid back by the Treasury.

Not surprisingly Mr Swinney agrees that the £140m already paid should be paid back by the Treasury.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Graham Simpson raises the issue of the lack of skills in the building industry.

Mr Swinney says the government recognises the importance of skills in the constructon sector.

The deputy first minister points to the work being done on apprenticeships.

He says the unemployment rate in Scotland is at 4% which is equal lowest.