The Impact of Urinary Incontinence on Female Sexual Function: A Tertiary Center Experience

INTRODUCTION: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent health issue affecting women’s quality of life and sexual function. This study investigates the impact of different types of UI on sexual function using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire short form (PISQ-12).
METHODS: A total of 123 sexually active women with stress, urge, or mixed-type UI, who presented to the Urogynecology clinic of Etlik City Hospital between May 2023 and September 2023, were included in the study. Patients with a history of pelvic floor surgery or pelvic organ prolapse were excluded. The PISQ-12 short form, validated in Turkish, was administered. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21 software.
RESULTS: The study population had a mean age of 48.2±10.5 years and a mean BMI of 30.0±4.6 kg/m². The average duration of UI was 5.4±3.8 years. Mixed-type UI was the most common (46.3%), followed by stress UI (36.5%) and urge UI (17.2%). The mean total PISQ-12 score was 27.1±6.7, with the lowest scores observed in the mixed-type UI group (25.1). Coital incontinence was reported in 46% of the patients. Statistically significant differences were observed in coital incontinence and coital incontinence anxiety between groups with poor and better sexual function (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in PISQ-12 scores between the types of UI. Additionally, no significant difference in sexual dysfunction was found between premenopausal and postmenopausal groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence significantly impacts women’s physical, psychosocial, and sexual health, necessitating thorough evaluation and treatment to improve quality of life and sexual function. Addressing UI and its associated sexual dysfunctions in clinical practice is crucial, despite the challenges in diagnosing these conditions.