Urinary incontinence in women seen in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic

The aim of this study was to present the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women seen in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic and to describe their behavioral characteristics. A UI-specific questionnaire was administered to 1222 randomly selected women who came to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of our institution and 15 affiliated hospitals, all located ill the island of Kyushu, Japan, for reasons other than incontinence. The prevalence of UI was 31%. Body mass index, parity and menopause significantly influenced the prevalence of UI. The majority of these women (78%) suffered from the stress type of incontinence. A direct relationship was found between the patient's assessment of the severity of her incontinence and the degree of effect on daily activities. The duration, frequency of incontinence and the number of pads used influenced their consultation attitude. Only 25% of these women consulted a physician, often a gynecologist.