The impact of urodynamic stress incontinence and detrusor overactivity on marital relationship and sexual function.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed and compared the quality of life, marital relationship, and sexual function of women who had urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) or detrusor overactivity (DO) diagnosed.

STUDY

DESIGN

Women with the following urodynamic diagnoses, normal, USI, or DO, were compared by using the psychometric questionnaires: King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ, for quality of life), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS, for marital relationship), and Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI, for sexual function).

RESULTS

Women with DO (n = 29) were younger than healthy women (n = 28) and women with USI (n = 36) (P <.05). Women with USI or DO had a poorer quality of life (P <.05), poorer marital relationship (P <.05), and less sexual satisfaction (P <.05), despite having no change in sexual drive (P >.05). Regression analyses showed that only sexual satisfaction and incontinence-related emotions were associated with marital relationship (P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Marital relationship and sexual function were negatively affected in women who had USI or DO.