Lower urinary tract symptoms and toileting behaviors in Turkish adult women

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Turkish adult women and to compare toileting behaviors in women with and without LUTS. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 815 women. The International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire - Female LUTS and a toileting behaviors form, created by the authors, were used in evaluations. Nearly 50 % of the women had at least one LUTS, 45.8 % had storage symptoms, 7.4 % had voiding symptoms, and 20.2 % had incontinence symptoms. The rates of premature urination, straining during urination, delayed urination, and sitting on the toilet while urinating were higher in women with LUTS than in women without LUTS (p < .05). The rate of squatting on the toilet while urinating was lower in women with LUTS than those without LUTS (p < .05). Various LUTS were common in adult women. Some toileting behaviors such as premature urination, straining during urination, delayed urination, and sitting on the toilet while urinating were higher in women with LUTS compared to women without LUTS. Since the rate of unhealthy toilet behaviors is higher in women with LUTS, it is important to know unhealthy toilet behaviors in the management of LUTS and to organize training programs to prevent these behaviors and LUTS.

Keywords: Lower urinary tract symptoms; Turkish women; prevalence; urination; women’s health.