Lower Urinary Tract and Functional Bowel Symptoms in Women With Vulvar Diseases and Controls

This study aims to compare the prevalences of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation in women with vulvar diseases to those from the general population.

Three groups of women were recruited from the University of Michigan Gynecology Clinics, women with: (1) biopsy proven lichen sclerosus (LS), (2) non-LS vulvar diseases (vulvar controls, VC), and (3) presenting for annual examinations (AE). All patients completed self-administered surveys and validated pelvic floor symptom questionnaires.

317 subjects were enrolled: 101 with LS, 86 VCs, and 130 AEs. Compared to women in the VC and AE groups, LS subjects were older and of higher parity, and also had a higher prevalence of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. The IBS was more common in the LS and VC groups compared to the AE group but no difference in constipation was seen. Similar results were found when all women with vulvar disease (LS and VC) were compared to the AEs. Age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.28; P = 0.003) and IBS (adjusted OR, 3.05; P < 0.001) were the 2 variables predictive of overactive bladder. Urinary incontinence was predicted by age (adjusted OR, 1.35; P = 0.002), vulvar disease categorization (adjusted OR, 2.31; P = 0.004) and IBS (adjusted OR, 4.51; P < 0.001).

We find a significantly greater prevalence of LUTS and IBS in women with vulvar disease compared to women presenting for annual gynecologic exams, but no difference in constipation. Similar rates of LUTS, IBS, and constipation were seen in women with LS and non-LS vulvar disease.