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. 2001 Jul;185(1):82-7.
doi: 10.1067/mob.2001.114501.

The risk of stress incontinence 5 years after first delivery

L Viktrup  1 , G Lose
Affiliations

The risk of stress incontinence 5 years after first delivery

L Viktrup et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a first pregnancy and delivery on the prevalence of stress incontinence 5 years afterward.

Study design: This longitudinal cohort study included 278 women who were questioned after their first delivery and again 5 years later.

Results: The prevalence of stress incontinence 5 years after a first delivery was 30%, and the 5-year incidence was 19%. The risk of stress incontinence 5 years after a first delivery was related to the onset and duration of symptoms after the first pregnancy and delivery in a "dose-response-like" manner. The use of vacuum extraction or episiotomy during the first delivery increased the risk.

Conclusions: First pregnancy and delivery may result in stress incontinence 5 years later. Women with incontinence 3 months after a first delivery have a particularly high risk of long-lasting symptoms. Obstetric risk factors are vacuum extraction and episiotomy.

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