Urinary and Anal Incontinence Are Common During and After Pregnancy

Data on prevalence of and risk factors for urinary and anal incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum are lacking. In a Spanish study of 1128 continent nulliparous pregnant women, participants completed questionnaires each trimester and postpartum (mean, 7 weeks) about weight gain and incidence and severity of urinary and anal incontinence.

In all, 39% of women reported urinary incontinence sometime during the study. Stress incontinence (range, 55% [postpartum] to 80% [third trimester]) was more common than urge incontinence (range, 7% [third trimester] to 30% [postpartum]). Reported severity of urinary incontinence rose from slight to moderate throughout pregnancy and postpartum. One in 10 women reported anal incontinence (primarily expe…