Prevalence, affecting factors and relationship with toileting behaviors of lower urinary tract symptoms in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

E. Destegül, S. Kocaöz, P. Kara, A. Yavuz

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey. destegulemre@hotmail.com

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• Obstetrics

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine factors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms and their prevalence in pregnant women, and to examine the relationship between these symptoms and toileting behavior.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 502 pregnant women who completed the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms-Short Form and the Toileting Behavior-Women’s Elimination Behaviors Scale.

RESULTS: The prevalence of at least one symptom in terms of urinary storage, voiding, urinary incontinence, sexual function, and quality of life dimensions in pregnant women were 99%, 54.8%, 60.4%, 19.7%, and 72.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the lower urinary tract symptoms of pregnant women were related to premature voiding (developing the habit of voiding when there is less than 260 ml of urine in the bladder), being in the third trimester of pregnancy, the presence of stress urinary incontinence during or after pregnancy and history of urinary tract infection. Furthermore, it was found that pregnant women’s total Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms-Short Form score had a weak correlation with their Toileting Behavior-Women’s Elimination Behaviors Scale general total score, and scores in the subsections on premature voiding, delayed voiding, and straining for voiding. Given that lower urinary tract symptoms are common among pregnant women, women should be offered antenatal training on lower urinary tract symptoms and preventative measures early on in their pregnancy to ensure they develop healthy toileting habits.

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