[Lower urinary tracts symptoms after female genital mutilation: A review]

The purpose of this article is to summarise the data available in literature on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms [lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)] after female genital mutilation (MSF).

Our review identified 177 publications, 14 of which were included in the article.

With regard to short-term complications, the prevalence of Acute Urinary Retention (RAU) after MSF is estimated between 3% and 12%. With respect to long-term complications, the data is discordant on repeat urinary tract infections (IUR) after MSF with an estimated prevalence between 9% and 39%. The prevalence of LUTS is significantly increased among women having suffered MSF. For example, mixed urinary incontinence is significantly higher in the MSF group with OR 5.17 CI 95% (2.34-12.97). And the more important the MSF is, the higher the LUTS prevalence is. Medical and surgical treatments are empirical and not evaluated.

Further studies are needed to better characterize and evaluate the prevalence of LUTS after MSF as well as the interest and efficiency of different therapeutics.