Vaginal Birth Not Linked to Urinary Incontinence
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 30 - Compared with their nulliparous sisters,
women who have given birth vaginally are not at increased risk for urinary
incontinence, according to a report in the December issue of Obstetrics and
Gynecology. Rather, familial factors seem to play an important role in
determining risk.
Previous reports looking at the association between vaginal birth and
incontinence have been plagued by various methodologic issues, such as the
use of unvalidated self-report survey instruments and making no distinction
between the various types of urinary incontinence or disease severity.
In the present study, Dr. Gunhilde M. Buchsbaum, from the University of
Rochester Medical Center in New York, and colleagues used a comprehensive
questionnaire to assess pelvic floor disorders in 143 pairs of
nulliparous/parous postmenopausal sisters. Clinical evaluation of urinary
incontinence and genital prolapse was conducted in 101 of the pairs.
The rate of urinary incontinence among the parous women was 49.7%, not
significantly higher than the 47.6% rate seen among the nulliparous women,
the authors state. Moreover, the type of incontinence and disease severity
did not differ significantly between the groups.
The same urinary status seen in one sister was often present in the other,
suggesting that there is an underlying familial disposition toward urinary
incontinence.
"A genetic predisposition for urinary incontinence needs to be explored
further because finding a genetic link to this condition would have great
implications for the direction of basic research, treatment approaches, risk
management, and potential prophylactic interventions," the authors state.
Obstet Gynecol 2005;106:1253-1258.
Leanne Wynne
Midwife in charge of "Women's Business"
Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862
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