Journal of Clinical Cases

Selected Elements Of Quality Of Life Assessment In Women With Urinary Incontinence

Katarzyna Juszczak, Julita Wujas and Piotr Juszczak

Department
Calisia University, Department of Medicine and Health Science, Kalisz, Poland
Graduate in nursing,, Calisia University, Department of Medicine and Health Science, Kalisz, Poland
Mikolaj Kopernik High School III in Kalisz

Corresponding Author: Katarzyna Juszczak

Summary

1.2. Introduction: The problem of urinary incontinence affects people all over the world; however, it definitely affects women more often because of predisposing factors, among which are: anatomy and physiology of urinary-genital system, natural childbirth, menopause, gynecological procedures. In the case of the inguinal hernias, the inguinal hernia is an invasive disease with a high risk of recurrent inguinal hernias and a high risk of inguinal hernias with a high risk of recurrent inguinal hernias. Women, due to the embarrassment and intimacy of the problem, do not report it and do not consult anyone, in a way trying to cope with it on their own. The growing fear of “uncovering” the problem, is often the basis for developing mental disorders, and even depression. This in turn leads to a gradual withdrawal from individual spheres of a woman’s life. The problem of urinary incontinence affects many spheres of a woman’s everyday functioning, therefore it is important to undertake educational activities concerning this embarrassing and still current problem [1,2].
1.2. Material and methods: The study involved 127 women with diagnosed urinary incontinence under the care of a urology outpatient clinic. An original questionnaire was used containing 25 closed questions concerning episodes of UI, diagnosis of UI, type of UI, duration of the disease, time of UI appearance, treatment of UI, situations in which UI occurs, sexual activity, number and method of births, influence of UI on life spheres, influence of UI on quality of sexual life, influence of UI on sexual activity.
1.3. Results: The respondents were most commonly diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence 81,9% (n=104), with the remaining respondents having urgency 10,2% (n=13) and mixed incontinence 7,9% (n=10). Urinary incontinence occurred most frequently in postmenopausal women 27,6% (n=35), less frequently in menopausal women 20,5% (n=26), after childbirth 12,6% (n=16) or in other situation 22,8% (n=26). Urinary incontinence most commonly affected the physical sphere 87,4% (n=111), the mental sphere 79,5% (n=101) and the social sphere 78,7% (n=)94. Less commonly, it affected the economic sphere 28,3% (n=36), the sexual sphere 26,8% (n=34), and the occupational sphere 13,4% (n=17). The problem of urinary incontinence affected the quality of sexual life in such a way that the respondents most often felt embarrassment 24,4% (n=31), avoided intercourse 18,9% (n=24), found it difficult to reach orgasm 7,1% (n=9), experienced pain during intercourse 3,9% (n=5) or lack of interest in sex 3,1% (n=4).
1.4. Conclusions: Respondents rate their quality of life at a moderate level, quality of life varies individually in different spheres of life. Urinary incontinence affects all spheres of women’s functioning: physical, mental, social. The limitations resulting from the disease have a major impact on the patient’s perception of his quality of life and daily functioning