Coital Urinary Incontinence and Female Sexual Function

Abstract

Urinary incontinence (UI) is an everyday problem among a large proportion of adult women. Prevalence of UI ranges between 15% and 25% and incidence for each type of UI ranges between 10% and 58%. Because women are concerned about UI during sexual intercourse it has a negative effect on female sexual health. The incidence of UI during sexual intercourse in incontinent women has been reported to range between 10% and 27%. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction is estimated to be 43%. There are conservative and surgical methods of treating UI but the number of published scientific articles dealing with the assessment of the effects of these types of therapy on improving sexual health in women treated for UI is deficient. Objective of this study was to review the available evidence on incidence, prevalence, pathophysiology and treatment of UI and coital urinary incontinence (CUI) with the attempt to determine the impact of UI and its physical and psychological consequences on women's sexual health and function in order to timely advise, prevent and treat disorders associated with bladder control issues.

Keywords

• urinary incontinence
• coitus
• sexual dysfunction
• sexuality