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Urinary incontinence symptoms during and after pregnancy in continent and incontinent primiparas

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Abstract

Objective

Examine patterns of urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy, as recalled by incontinent and continent primiparas.

Study design

Primiparous women reporting no pre-pregnancy incontinence, were recruited 6 to 9 months postpartum. Those reporting current continence and demonstrating a negative stress test were considered “Primiparous Continent” (PC, n=64). Those reporting current incontinence and demonstrating a positive stress test were considered “Primiparous Incontinent” (PI, n=57). Subjects self-administered a questionnaire recalling leakage during and after pregnancy.

Results

Sixteen percent of PC women leaked during pregnancy. Of these, 70% experienced frequent leakage during pregnancy. Seventy-eight percent of PI women leaked both during and after pregnancy. Several patterns arose surrounding leakage frequency for PI women: 19% only leaked frequently during pregnancy, 4% only leaked frequently after pregnancy, and 51% leaked frequently both during and after pregnancy.

Conclusion

Nearly five times as many primiparous incontinent women, compared with primiparous continent women, leaked during pregnancy.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge support from National Institutes of Heath/National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases grant R01 DK 51405.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Angela D. Thomason, Janis M. Miller & John OL DeLancey

  2. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Janis M. Miller

Authors
  1. Angela D. Thomason
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  2. Janis M. Miller
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  3. John OL DeLancey
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Correspondence to Angela D. Thomason.

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Thomason, A.D., Miller, J.M. & DeLancey, J.O. Urinary incontinence symptoms during and after pregnancy in continent and incontinent primiparas. Int Urogynecol J 18, 147–151 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-006-0124-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-006-0124-8

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