LOS GATOS, Calif. — Butterfly Health on Friday launched a men's version of its Butterfly Body Liners for accidental bowel leakage. ABL affects tens of millions of men and women, yet there is low public health awareness despite nearly a decade of published clinical research pointing to this high prevalence.
Butterfly Body Liners are the first and only personal hygiene product that adheres comfortably in between the buttocks, providing secure protection for little bowel leaks. "Butterfly is a disruptive product that addresses a completely underserved market. While there have been disposable brief type products for heavy bowel leakage for decades, there are have been no products available for people who experience light bowel leakage," said Karl Ronn, co-founder, Butterfly Health, and former VP, research and development at Procter & Gamble.
The clinical research and consumer market insights support the need for Butterfly Body Liners:
Nearly 70% of people with ABL first experience it before age 60;90% of people with ABL experience light to moderate leakage;
80% of people with ABL are dissatisfied with the methods they use to manage this condition; and
90% of people who use Butterfly report that it protects them from little bowel leaks.
ABL is associated with such common conditions as IBS, diarrhea, obesity and diabetes. Men who have had colon or prostate cancer treatment are at especially high risk for ABL.
"ABL is finally emerging as a key health and wellness concern, but not enough people are talking about it or seeking care. Butterfly is a product that makes it easy to open the conversation, encouraging people with ABL to seek effective treatments," stated Brooke Gurland, colorectal surgeon at the Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
"All the research literature clearly shows both women and men experience ABL, at similar prevalence levels. It is a myth to think bowel leakage just affects women. I have spoken to so many men who have said thank you for not leaving men out of this conversation. It is never easy to pave the way on something as sensitive as ABL, but every time we hear from consumers, we know we're making a difference," said Kelly Lewis Brezoczky, CEO Butterfly Health.
Butterfly Body Liners have won two national innovation awards, the 2014 INDA Vision Award and a 2014 Edison Award. Butterfly for Men is now available at all Target stores and on Butterfly.com and Walmart.com.