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 Associated with Sexual Activity for Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFDs) and identify factors associated with sexual activity (SA) status that impacts quality of life (QoL). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study that included women > 18 years old who presented with at least one PFD symptom (urinary incontinence [UI] and/or pelvic organ prolapse [POP]), in outpatient clinics specializing in urogynecology and PFD in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil, using a service evaluation form and QoL questionnaires. RESULTS: The analysis of 659 women with PFD included 286 SA (43.4%) women and 373 non-sexually active (NSA) (56.6%) women, with a mean age of 54.7 (±12) years old. The results revealed that age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.12) and post-menopausal status (OR = 2.28, 95% CI 1.08-4.8) were negatively associated with SA. Being married (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.88) was associated with SA. Pelvic organ prolapse (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.81-1.68) and UI (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.36) did not prevent SA. SF-36 Health Survey results indicated that only the domain functional capacity was significantly worse in NSA women (p = 0.012). Two King's Health Questionnaire domains in NSA women, impact of UI (p = 0.005) and personal relationships (p < 0.001), were significantly associated factors. Data from the Prolapse Quality-of-life Questionnaire indicated that NSA women exhibited compromised QoL. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal status and age negatively affected SA. Being married facilitated SA. Presence of POP and UI did not affect SA. However, NSA women with POP exhibited compromised QoL.

OBJETIVO: Examinar mulheres com disfunções do assoalho pélvico (DAP) e identificar fatores associados ao status de atividade sexual (AS) e impacto na qualidade de vida (QV). MéTODOS: Realizamos um estudo transversal, no qual participaram mulheres > 18 anos, que apresentaram pelo menos um sintoma de DAP (incontinência urinária [UI] e/ou prolapso de órgão pélvico [POP]), em ambulatórios especializados em uroginecologia e DAP em Fortaleza, CE, Brasil, utilizando um formulário de avaliação de serviço e questionários de QV. RESULTADOS: A análise de 659 mulheres com DAP incluiu 286 mulheres sexualmente ativas (SA) (43,4%) e 373 mulheres não sexualmente ativas (NSA) (56,6%), com idade média de 54,7 (±12) anos. Os resultados revelaram que idade (odds ratio [OR] = 1,07; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 1,03­1,12) e status pós-menopausa (OR = 2,28; IC 95% 1,08­4,8) foram negativamente associados à atividade sexual. O casamento (OR = 0,43; IC 95% 0,21­0,88) foi associado à AS. Por outro lado, POP (OR = 1,16; IC 95% 0,81­1,68) e IU (OR = 0,17; IC 95% 0,08­0,36) não impediram a AS. Os resultados do SF-36 Health Survey indicaram que apenas a capacidade funcional do domínio (p = 0,012) foi significativamente pior em mulheres NSA. Dois domínios King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ, na sigla em inglês) em mulheres NSA, impacto da IU (p = 0,005) e relacionamento pessoal (p < 0,001), foram fatores significativamente associados. Os dados do Prolapse Quality-of-life Questionnaire (P-QoL, na sigla em inglês) indicaram que as mulheres NSA apresentavam QV comprometida. CONCLUSãO: O status pós-menopausa e a idade afetaram negativamente a AS, enquanto o casamento facilitou a AS. A presença de POP e IU não afetou a AS. No entanto, as mulheres NSA com POP apresentaram QV comprometida.

Factors associated with sexual activity for women with pelvic floor dysfunction - a cross-sectional study / Fatores associados à atividade sexual de mulheres com distúrbios do assoalho pélvico - um estudo transversal

Abstract Objective To examine women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFDs) and identify factors associated with sexual activity (SA) status that impacts quality of life (QoL). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study that includedwomen> 18 years old who presented with at least one PFD symptom (urinary incontinence [UI] and/or pelvic organ prolapse [POP]), in outpatient clinics specializing in urogynecology and PFD in Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil, using a service evaluation form and QoL questionnaires. Results The analysis of 659 women with PFD included 286 SA (43.4%) women and 373 non-sexually active (NSA) (56.6%) women, with a mean age of 54.7 (±12) years old. The results revealed that age (odds ratio [OR]= 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.12) and post-menopausal status (OR= 2.28, 95% CI 1.08-4.8) were negatively associated with SA. Being married (OR= 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.88) was associated with SA. Pelvic organ prolapse (OR= 1.16, 95% CI 0.81-1.68) and UI (OR= 0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.36) did not prevent SA. SF-36 Health Survey results indicated that only the domain functional capacity was significantly worse in NSA women (p= 0.012). Two King's Health Questionnaire domains in NSA women, impact of UI (p= 0.005) and personal relationships (p< 0.001), were significantly associated factors. Data from the Prolapse Quality-of-life Questionnaire indicated that NSA women exhibited compromised QoL. Conclusion Postmenopausal status and age negatively affected SA. Being married facilitated SA. Presence of POP and UI did not affect SA. However, NSAwomen with POP exhibited compromised QoL.

Resumo Objetivo Examinar mulheres com disfunções do assoalho pélvico (DAP) e identificar fatores associados ao status de atividade sexual (AS) e impacto na qualidade de vida (QV). Métodos Realizamos um estudo transversal, no qual participaram mulheres > 18 anos, que apresentaram pelo menos um sintoma de DAP (incontinência urinária [UI] e/ou prolapso de órgão pélvico [POP]), em ambulatórios especializados em uroginecologia e DAP emFortaleza, CE, Brasil, utilizando um formulário de avaliação de serviço e questionários de QV. Resultados A análise de 659 mulheres comDAP incluiu 286 mulheres sexualmente ativas (SA) (43,4%) e 373 mulheres não sexualmente ativas (NSA) (56,6%), com idade média de 54,7 (±12) anos. Os resultados revelaram que idade (odds ratio [OR]= 1,07; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 1,03-1,12) e status pós-menopausa (OR= 2,28; IC 95% 1,08-4,8) foram negativamente associados à atividade sexual. O casamento (OR= 0,43; IC 95% 0,21-0,88) foi associado à AS. Por outro lado, POP (OR= 1,16; IC 95% 0,81-1,68) e IU (OR= 0,17; IC 95% 0,08-0,36) não impediram a AS. Os resultados do SF-36 Health Survey indicaram que apenas a capacidade funcional do domínio (p = 0,012) foi significativamente pior em mulheres NSA. Dois domínios King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ, na sigla em inglês) em mulheres NSA, impacto da IU (p = 0,005) e relacionamento pessoal (p< 0,001), foram fatores significativamente associados. Os dados do Prolapse Qualityof- life Questionnaire (P-QoL, na sigla em inglês) indicaram que as mulheres NSA apresentavam QV comprometida. Conclusão O status pós-menopausa e a idade afetaram negativamente a AS, enquanto o casamento facilitou a AS. A presença de POP e IU não afetou a AS. No entanto, as mulheres NSA com POP apresentaram QV comprometida.