The Burden of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Recent large-scale studies have revealed that approximately one third of the adult, community-dwelling women have some form of urinary incontinence (UI). Stress urinary symptoms are most prevalent, being apparent in 70%-88% of incontinent women, either as pure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). SUI continues to remain a taboo, though, with only a minority of incontinent women consulting a doctor about their problem. Reasons for these low consultation rates include shame and embarrassment, lack of information about available treatment options, fear for surgery and the misconception that becoming incontinent is an inevitable consequence of age and/or giving birth. Yet, most SUI patients indicate that the condition has a negative impact on their well-being. However, even among those looking for help, treatment rates remain low. Hence, most SUI patients suffer in silence and try to cope with it themselves by using pads or panty liners, restricting fluid intake, avoiding social activities and limiting physical exercise. Recent developments of treatment options including a new pharmacological agent to alleviate SUI symptoms have good potential for treating these women, provided that awareness is raised in patients and physicians on the high prevalence, bothersomeness and treatment options of SUI.