Pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PS-UI) was defined as any onset of new urinary leakage during pregnancy. PS-UI is a strong predictor of UI postpartum and later in life, and identifying its risk factors will help healthcare providers and pregnant women make informed decisions. The study aims to analyze the prevalence and risk factors of PS-UI at two gestational stages. We hypothesized that demographic and clinical factors may contribute to the development of PS-UI.

This observational study screened 1450 pregnant women and followed them until delivery. Pregnant women with PS-UI and Pregnant women without PS-UI were recruited to participate in the study. Eligible participants were women in their first or second pregnancy, who had a planned only C-section in their previous pregnancy, were between the ages of 18 and 40, and had their C-section performed in the PDRC. Women with pregestational UI, known type 1 or type 2 diabetes, preterm delivery (<37 weeks of gestation), multiple pregnancies, known fetal anomaly or connective tissue diseases and any clinical condition that may have jeopardized their health status were excluded from the study. Participants were recruited at 24 weeks and were evaluated at two time points (TP): 24–28 weeks of gestation (1st TP) and 36–38 weeks of gestation (2nd TP). Baseline information (maternal characteristics, demographics, and anthropometrics) and the time of onset of PS-UI were evaluated. The participants were asked to answer ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’ as to whether they had experienced PS-UI. Associations with the demographic variables were made using the chi-square test. A logistic regression model was fit considering the occurrence of UI in these scenarios in order to determine the risk or protective factors for UI in the participants

The study involved 992 pregnant women from the cohort study, among whom 616 had PS-UI and 376 did not (non-PS-UI). Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics by PS-UI status. The prevalence of PS-UI among the studied population was 62.1%, with 58.85% occurring between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, as shown in Table 2. Excluding the 83 cases of early PS-UI, the prevalence of late PS-UI among pregnant women was 51%.Women with PS-UI had a higher pregestational BMI (p=0.002), as well as BMI at the 1st TP (p=0.004) and 2nd TP (p=0.002), compared to those without PS-UI. Moreover, women with PS-UI engaged in less physical activity during pregnancy (p=0.003) and presented with more chronic coughing (p=0.025).

Most women had urinary incontinence at some point during their pregnancy. The onset of PS-UI was proportional among those who leaked urine between 24 and 28 gestational weeks and those who leaked at the end of pregnancy. The pregestational BMI is a risk factor for PS-UI and physical activity is a protective factor that halves the risk of PS-UI developing. The findings suggest that weight management and encouragement to engage in physical activity during pregnancy should be incorporated into prenatal care to reduce the risk of PS-UI and, consequently, UI later in life.

Weight management and encouragement to engage in physical activity during pregnancy should be incorporated into prenatal care to reduce the risk of PS-UI and, consequently, UI later in life

Pizzoferrato AC, Briant AR, Le Grand C, Gaichies L, Fauvet R, Fauconnier A, et al. Influence of prenatal urinary incontinence and mode of delivery in postnatal urinary incontinence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2023 Mar;52(3):102536. doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2022.102536.
Baruch Y, Manodoro S, Barba M, Cola A, Re I, Frigerio M. Prevalence and Severity of Pelvic Floor Disorders during Pregnancy: Does the Trimester Make a Difference? Healthcare. 2023 Apr 11;11(8):1096. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11081096.

Continence 12S (2024) 101652
DOI: 10.1016/j.cont.2024.101652