Hidden prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in healthy nulligravid young women

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary incontinence (UI) may have a major impact on quality of life. However, not all individuals with urological complaints seek medical advice. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of LUTS in young otherwise healthy nulligravid women and the accompanying burden.

A total of 159 young presumably healthy female medical students aged 18-30 years were recruited at their university. All completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire for Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. The prevalence of LUTS and the accompanying burden were measured. Correlations between symptoms and bother were analysed using Spearman's rho.

LUTS was found in 94.3% of the women, urgency at least sometimes in 14.5%, and hesitancy in 14.5%. Nocturia once a night was reported by 18.2% of the women; none reported nocturia of more than twice a night. Involuntarily loss of urine was reported by 20.1% of the women but none reported this occurring more than twice a week. The median value of all bother scores was 0; the highest bother score was for urgency. For all questions a positive correlation was found between symptoms and bother; a strong correlation was found for bladder pain, urgency UI, stress UI and overall UI.

In a presumably healthy population of young nulligravid women the prevalence of LUTS and UI was high, but with relatively low bother.