Prevalence of urinary incontinence in young and middle-aged women in an Italian urban area.

To investigate by questionnaire the prevalence and characteristics of urinary incontinence (UI) in a female population aged between 18 and 49.Of 44,095 females aged 18-49.9 living in our urban area a sample of 10,000 subjects was sent a questionnaire and 3557 replied. The age-based analysis was performed on 2900 of these.The overall prevalence of UI was 20\%. 11\% had suffered from nocturnal enuresis before 18 years old, 47\% of parous women noted a relationship between the beginning of UI and delivery. Among the incontinent women 83\% lost urine with physical exertion, and 44\% had urge incontinence, 18\% used diapers, 20\% had consulted a physician and half of these had been referred for medical, surgical or rehabilitative therapy, 50\% reported past or present urinary infections, 8\% complained also of faecal incontinence, 22\% considered loss of urine embarrassing and humiliating but only 6\% revealed frustration and 2\% were obliged to stay at home for long periods of time. Of the incontinents 62\% defined themselves anxious or nervous and 22\% of these ascribed an increase of urinary leakage to anxiety or to nervousness, 9\% reported use of antidepressant drugs, 85\% had sexual intercourse and only 2\% considered UI as an impediment to a satisfying sexual activity.UI is a common problem in young women. Urge incontinence seems to be prevalent in <30 aged women while stress incontinence occurs more frequently after this age.