Effects of Urinary Incontinence on the Quality Of Life in Climacteric Woman

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence corresponds to involuntary loss of urine and it is a public health problem worldwide as declared by the International Incontinence Society. It is prevalent in women between 25-45 % and it is intensifying during the climacteric stage.
Objective: To determine the effects of urinary incontinence on the quality of life of climacteric women.
Methods: Eight original articles of primary source were selected, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, which were published from 2012 to 2017, in PubMed, SciELO, Medline, Lilacs, Elsevier, Scopus and Google Scholar.
Results: Climacteric women with urinary incontinence present diverse symptomatology classified in three categories: first, the genitourinary and sexual category, which is describe by urinary incontinence during intercourse and orgasm, nocturia, enuresis and poliaquiuria that triggers sexual dysfunction: the psycho-emotional category, a consequence of fear, shame, anguish, anxiety, depression, loss of self-image, self-confidence and aversion to the sexual intercourse. Finally, sociocultural category stands out for social isolation and lack of adherence to medical control for this pathology, associated with perception that this symptomatology is part of aging.
Conclusions: The varied symptomatology presented in the climacteric women with urinary incontinence negatively affect their quality of life. It is necessary to integrate to the currently used Menopause Rating Scale, the simultaneous application of the questionnaire International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form and Sandvik test, when the first scale is altered, in order to encourage the early detection of symptoms by the health professional for derivation and timely treatment.