Urinary symptoms in pregnant women in their third trimester-a cross-sectional study

Urinary symptoms are common in pregnancy. Our study aims to understand the extent of these symptoms in a cohort of pregnant women in the third trimester and their impact on quality of life (QOL) from the women's perspective.

A single-centre cross-sectional study of self-reported urinary symptoms of pregnant women in the third trimester conducted from August 2018 at the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Northern Lincolnshire, and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, Grimsby, UK. We used an international validated questionnaire (ICIQ-FLUTS questionnaire) (Brookes et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 191(1):73-82, 2004).

A total of 302 women were included in this study. Nocturia was the most common symptom, reported by 97%, affecting QOL in 80%. Urgency of micturition was the second most common, present in 83%, adversely affecting QOL in 75%. Our study showed a startling finding of bladder pain in 47% (95% CI 41.1%, 52.3%) of these women. There was a high prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in 9.9% (95% CI 7.05%, 13.8%). Straining during micturition is not a well-known symptom in pregnancy, however reported by 18.2% (95% CI 14.2%, 23.0%).

The high prevalences of bladder pain, nocturnal enuresis and straining in the third trimester of pregnancy are novel findings. Our study also confirms that the prevalence of all voiding, filling and incontinence symptoms in pregnancy is significantly higher than in the non-pregnant population, having a negative impact on QOL, and yet is not discussed as part of routine antenatal care.