Menstrual cycle, female hormone use and urinary incontinence in premenopausal women

• Published in: International Urogynecology Journal Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 56 - 61
• Main Authors: Hvidman, L, Foldspang, A, Mommsen, S, Bugge Nielsen, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Springer Nature B.V 01-02-2003
• Subjects: Adult; Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Premenopause; Risk Factors; Urinary Incontinence - epidemiology; Urinary Incontinence - etiology; Urinary Incontinence - physiopathology; Women
• ISSN: 0937-3462; 1433-3023
• DOI: 10.1007/s00192-002-1012-5

Our aim was to study the association between menstrual cycle characteristics, the use of female hormones and urinary incontinence (UI) in an age-stratified random population sample of 2158 premenopausal women who answered a questionnaire on urinary incontinence. Episodes of UI during 1997 were reported by 18.3% and one or more episodes of UI the preceding year by 3.9%. Based on multiple logistic regression, self-reported UI the day before answering the questionnaire was found to be associated with current hormone use for menstrual disorders (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.6), a recent decrease in bleeding duration (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.7), being on days 11-15 before the expected end of the menstrual cycle the preceding day (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.0), and with general UI risk factors, i.e. vaginal childbirth, childhood enuresis, BMI >/=530 and exposure to abdominal and/or gynecologic surgery. The findings are in accordance with a hypothesis of hormonal variation being a risk indicator of UI in premenopausal women.