Postpartum urinary stress incontinence and its relation to the mode of delivery

Abstract EN

Background : Postpartum stress incontinence (SUI) is a common symptom and is reported in up to 35 % of women.

Urinary incontinence is a physically debilitating as well as socially incapacitating condition leads to anxiety, depression and loss of confidence.

Objectives : This study took an aim at determination of the incidence of postpartum stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

It assesses the incidence of genuine stress incontinence with urodynamics.

It also correlates its correlation the incidence of postpartum stress urinary incontinence with the mode of both vaginal and instrumental delivery as well as with caesarean section.

In addition, it analyzes the postpartum symptoms and their relationship both to the urodynamic diagnosis and the mode of delivery.

Patients and methods : Out of 250 initially selected primiparous, 222 women responded to the questionnaire for the SUI at 10 weeks postpartum were included in this investigation.

Urodynamic study was advocated to those who said that they had SUI.

The incidence of SUI after different modes of delivery was compared with each other.

Statistical analysis was done by odds ratio and 95 % confidence limit estimation and chi square tests.

Results : The incidence of SUI was 30.1 % in the study group.

It was statistically significantly higher after vaginal delivery and more so after instrumental delivery as compared to incidence after caesarean section.

No significant differences were observed between instrumental delivery and vaginal delivery.

Incidence of genuine stress incontinence was 4.1 %.

Conclusions : The incidence of SUI was lower after caesarean section.

Urodynamics show lower incidence of genuine stress incontinence than that revealed by women perception.