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Urinary incontinence after obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS)—is there a relationship?

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Abstract

This study aimed to compare urinary symptoms and its impact on women’s quality of life after obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) with a matched control group in the short term. The study group consisted of 100 primiparous women with OASIS and 104 controls who sustained a second-degree tear or had a mediolateral episiotomy performed. All women completed a validated International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) questionnaire 10 weeks after delivery. Compared to controls, significantly more women with OASIS reported overall urinary incontinence (21.2 vs 38%, p = 0.005) and had significantly worse quality of life score (incontinence score: 2.42 vs 1.2; p = 0.008). Significantly more women with OASIS suffered from stress urinary incontinence (33 vs 14%; p = 0.002; OR 3.06; CI = 1.54–6.07) than controls. Logistic regression analysis revealed that OASIS and a prolonged (>50 min) second stage of labour were independent risk factors for the development of stress urinary incontinence. This study highlights the importance of inquiring about urinary incontinence in women with OASIS.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful for the statistical advice kindly given by Sally Kerry from the Community Health Science Department at St. George’s University of London. Funding for this study was provided by the Mayday Childbirth Charity Fund, Croydon, UK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Urogynaecology Unit, Mayday University Hospital, 530, London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE, UK

    Inka Scheer, Vasanth Andrews & Ranee Thakar

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  1. Inka Scheer
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  2. Vasanth Andrews
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  3. Ranee Thakar
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  4. Abdul H. Sultan
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Correspondence to Ranee Thakar.

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Scheer, I., Andrews, V., Thakar, R. et al. Urinary incontinence after obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS)—is there a relationship?. Int Urogynecol J 19, 179–183 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-007-0431-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-007-0431-8

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