The Importance of Body Mass Index on Prognostic Factors for Urinary Incontinence in Asymptomatic Nulliparous Women

Measurements of levator hiatal area (LHA) by pelvic floor ultrasound examination were shown to be associated with symptoms and signs of prolapse and urinary incontinence. Body mass index (BMI) is a modifiable risk factor which has shown to be related with urinary incontinence. Our aim in this study was to observe and to understand the relation between BMI and weight with LH and other transperineal ultrasound parameters such as bladder neck mobility and bladder-urethra angles in asymptomatic nulliparous women.

This study was a cross-sectional study in a gynecology outpatient clinic of a tertiary center after receiving ethical approval. Nulliparous women presenting to the gynecology outpatient clinic without any uro-gynecological complaint were invited to participate.

During study period, 167 women met the eligibility criteria. Our data showed that weight and BMI are correlated with hiatal dimensions, γ angle and bladder neck descent even in asymptomatic nulliparous women.

These findings may explain why weight loss is associated with improvements in stress incontinence symptoms and why we should encourage women in weight control which is the only modifiable factor in the etiology of incontinence.