Urinary incontinence following surgery to correct genital prolapse: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) frequently coexist, but whether both conditions should be treated during the same operation remains debated. This study evaluated UI symptoms after isolated POP surgery using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF). Methods: thirty-seven patients with POP and concomitant UI symptoms who underwent isolated POP repair were included. The ICIQ-UI-SF was completed preoperatively and at three and six months postoperatively. Results: preoperatively, among patients with available UI-subtype classification, 72.2% had mixed UI, 16.7% urgency UI, and 11.1% stress UI. All procedures were performed vaginally. The median ICIQ-UI-SF score decreased from 15 points [interquartile range (IQR): 12–18] preoperatively to 3 points [IQR: 0–7] at six months. In the GEE model, the estimated mean reduction was 10 points at six months [95% confidence interval (CI): -12 to -8.3; p<0.001]. At six months, 43% of patients had an ICIQ-UI-SF score of 0, and 62% were asymptomatic or had only slight symptoms. Conclusions: UI symptoms decreased after isolated POP repair, with 43% of the patients achieving an ICIQ-UI-SF score of 0 at six months. These findings support the hypothesis that some women may experience symptom reduction after POP repair alone, although controlled studies with longer follow-up are needed.