Does Sexual Intercourse Position Have a Role in Occurrence of Coital Urinary Incontinence?

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Coital urinary incontinence (CUI) affects sexually active women.
• The influence of sexual intercourse positions on CUI occurrence is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that sexual intercourse positions impact the occurrence of CUI.
• To compare characteristics of women with CUI dependent on intercourse position versus those independent of it.

Main Methods:

• A case-control observational study of 360 sexually active women with CUI.
• Evaluation included medical/sexual histories, questionnaires, physical exams, and urodynamics.
• Participants were categorized based on whether CUI was position-dependent (Group 1) or independent (Group 2).

Main Results:

• Group 1 (position-dependent CUI) had significantly lower mean age, BMI, comorbidity index, incontinence severity, and pad weight compared to Group 2.
• Detrusor overactivity and penetration-type CUI were more prevalent in Group 1.
• Logistic regression indicated a 3.5-fold higher likelihood of position-related CUI in women with detrusor overactivity.

Conclusions:

• Intercourse position is associated with CUI in a subset of women.
• This association appears linked to detrusor overactivity and inversely related to incontinence severity.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind position-related CUI.