Gestational Urinary Incontinence in Nulliparous Pregnancy- A Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Urology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Urinary Incontinence (UI) during pregnancy is a significant social issue requiring specialized management.
• The precise biological and etiological factors contributing to UI in pregnancy remain incompletely understood.
• Gestational Urinary Incontinence (GUI) specifically affects pregnant women, necessitating focused research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the direct impact of gestational factors on the occurrence of Gestational Urinary Incontinence (GUI).
• To examine GUI in nulliparous pregnant women, controlling for prior UI history.
• To assess the relationship between physical and metabolic/hormonal changes during pregnancy and GUI.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based pilot study involving 61 nulliparous pregnant women with no prior history of UI.
• Data collected at three distinct gestational periods: 11-14 weeks, approximately 24 weeks, and approximately 37 weeks.
• Statistical analysis employed Chi-Square or Fisher's-exact tests to compare proportions.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of UI in nulliparous pregnant women increased from 4.9% at 11-14 weeks to 26.2% at 37 weeks.
• Stress UI prevalence rose from 3.3% to 16.4%, and urge UI from 1.6% to 6.6% over the same periods.
• Maternal age, neonatal birth weight, and gestational age at birth showed no statistically significant association with GUI.

Conclusions:

• Urinary incontinence is a common and escalating issue during pregnancy.
• Symptoms of gestational urinary incontinence are markedly more prevalent in the third trimester.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the specific gestational factors influencing GUI.