[Urinary incontinence in women: reasons for not seeking treatment]

The main purpose of this study was to verify why incontinent women, users of a Basic Healthcare Unit in Campinas, SP, do not seek treatment for urinary incontinence (UI). This is a descriptive, cross-section study, where 213 women who attended the service to have their cancer cytology examination were approached, and 35 of them, being incontinent, were included in the study. Three questionnaires were used: ICIQ-SF, King's Health Questionnaire and a specific instrument elaborated for this study. A large share of the subjects (45.7%) did not know any form of UI treatment, and more than half (65.7%) did not seek treatment for the problem, with the main stated reasons being that they thought that urinary loss was normal, did not consider it important and the physician said that it was not necessary. It is concluded that the lack of knowledge about the types of treatment can contribute for not seeking professional help.