Prevalence of unreported bowel symptoms in women with pelvic floor dysfunction and the impact on their quality of life.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Little information is available on the recurrent coexistence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), urinary (UI) and/or anal (AI) incontinence and defecatory dysfunctions and the relationship between these disorders. The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence, bother, and impact on quality of life (QoL) of unreported bowel symptoms in women presenting to a Brazilian tertiary urogynecology clinic. METHODS: The study was a cross-section survey of 172 patients with symptoms of pelvic floor disorders (PFD). Patients who reported any defecatory and/or continence disorders were included in the study group, and the others were included in the control group. Patients with UI were also compared with those with double incontinence (DI): AI and UI. Univariate analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous nonparametric data. RESULTS: After the interview, 54.6 % (n = 94) of patients presented AI and/or defecatory disorders: 67.0 % constipation, 41.4 % AI, and 34.0 % fecal urgency. Women from the study group scored worse in the QoL questionnaires compared with women from the control group. Among women with UI, 23.21 % had associated AI. Women with DI scored worse in the QoL questionnaires. CONCLUSION: Anal and urinary dysfunctions are usually associated and have a great impact on a woman's QoL. An integrated approach across specialties should lead to improved patient care. Therefore, our study is relevant because it emphasizes the importance of urogynecologists routinely investigating such symptoms. To do so, standardized questionnaires should be included in the evaluation of all these patients.

Factors related to failure to attend the consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the factors related to the failure of women to attend the follow-up consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test. METHOD: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 775 patients who underwent the Pap smear test in the Centro de Saúde da Família of Fortaleza, between September 2010 and February 2011. RESULTS: the majority of the women studied were young (≤35 years), had low levels of education (≤7 years of study), and commenced sexual activity early (≤20 years), with 17.0% of them failing to return to receive the test results. Statistically significant results for the failure to return were related to: young women (p=0.001); early onset of sexual activity (p=0.047); and inadequate knowledge about the Pap smear test (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: the fact that the women failed to return for the result is a problem for the control of cervical cancer, and must be addressed through educational strategies that reinforce the importance of the return for the early detection of this cancer.

Factors related to failure to attend the consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test / Factores relacionados al no presentarse a la consulta para recibir el resultado de la prueba de Papanicolaou / Fatores relacionados ao não comparecimento à consulta para receber o resultado do exame colpocitológico

OBJECTIVE: to identify the factors related to the failure of women to attend the follow-up consultation to receive the results of the Pap smear test. METHOD: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 775 patients who underwent the Pap smear test in the Centro de Saúde da Família of Fortaleza, between September 2010 and February 2011. RESULTS: the majority of the women studied were young (≤35 years), had low levels of education (≤7 years of study), and commenced sexual activity early (≤20 years), with 17.0% of them failing to return to receive the test results. Statistically significant results for the failure to return were related to: young women (p=0.001); early onset of sexual activity (p=0.047); and inadequate knowledge about the Pap smear test (p=0.029). Conclusion the fact that the women failed to return for the result is a problem for the control of cervical cancer and must be addressed through educational strategies that reinforce the importance of the return for the early detection of this cancer. .

OBJETIVO: identificar os fatores relacionados ao não comparecimento das mulheres à consulta de retorno para receber o resultado do exame colpocitológico. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, realizado com 775 pacientes que se submeteram ao exame colpocitológico no Centro de Saúde da Família de Fortaleza, Ceará, entre setembro de 2010 e fevereiro de 2011. RESULTADOS: a maioria das pesquisadas era jovem (≤35 anos), de baixa escolaridade (≤7 anos de estudo), com início da vida sexual precoce (≤20 anos) e 17,0% delas não retornaram para receber o resultado do exame. Resultados estatisticamente significantes para o não comparecimento ao retorno estiveram relacionados a: mulheres jovens (p=0,001), início precoce da atividade sexual (p=0,047) e conhecimento inadequado sobre o exame colpocitológico (p=0,029). CONCLUSÃO: o fato de a mulher não retornar para receber o resultado é um problema para o controle do câncer cervicouterino e deve ser combatido por meio de estratégias educativas que reforcem a importância do retorno para a detecção precoce desse câncer. .

OBJETIVO: identificar los factores relacionados a la no asistencia de las mujeres a la consulta de retorno para recibir el resultado de la prueba de Papanicolaou. MÉTODO: se trata de un estudio transversal, realizado con 775 pacientes que se sometieron a la prueba de Papanicolaou en el Centro de Salud de la Familia de Fortaleza-CE, entre septiembre de 2010 y febrero de 2011. RESULTADOS: la mayoría de las encuestadas eran jóvenes (≤35 años), de baja escolaridad (≤7 años de estudio), iniciaron la vida sexual muy temprano (≤20 años) y 17,0% de ellas no retornaron para recibir el resultado del examen. Los resultados estadísticamente significativos por no retornar estuvieron relacionados a: mujeres jóvenes (p=0,001); inicio precoz de la actividad sexual (p=0,047); y conocimiento inadecuado sobre la prueba de Papanicolaou (p=0,029). CONCLUSIÓN: el hecho de la mujer no retornar para recibir el resultado es un problema para el control del cáncer de cuello uterino y debe ser combatido por medio de estrategias educativas que refuercen la importancia del retorno para la detección precoz de ese cáncer. .