Press Releases: National
February 29, 2008
Kaiser Permanente Study Shows One-Third of Women Have Overactive Bladder, Incontinence or Other Pelvic Floor Disorders
Researchers Determine Age Has No Significant Bearing on these Disorders and Urge Physicians to Question Patients about Symptoms
OAKLAND, Calif. – A new study by Kaiser Permanente found that one-third of women suffer from one or more pelvic floor disorders, which include symptoms such as the frequent urge to urinate, dropped pelvic organs, and incontinence. The study, which consists of the broadest age range of participants to date, of which 80 percent of the 4,000 women studied had given birth. Of those 4,000 women, 25 percent suffered from anal incontinence, 15 percent from stress urinary incontinence, 13 percent from overactive bladder and 6 percent experienced pelvic organ prolapse, the dropping of pelvic organs.
"These conditions really affect women's quality of life. Many women think this is just something they have to deal with as they age and that there isn't anything they can do about it, but that's not true," said lead author Jean M. Lawrence, ScD, MPH, MSSA, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente's Department of Research and Evaluation in Southern California, where the study was conducted.
Published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study surveyed women ages 25 to 84 in English and Spanish, making it the most extensive research on the subject to date across such a wide age range. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the findings expand on research published two years ago by the same scientific team from Kaiser Permanente Southern California and the University of California, San Diego Medical Center that found that vaginal births double the rate of pelvic floor disorders compared to Cesarean deliveries and women who have never given birth.
"One of the myths surrounding pelvic floor disorder is that it affects only older women, but the truth is these conditions are extremely prevalent and extremely debilitating. But because the subject matter isn't cocktail conversation, women feel isolated and don’t seek support and treatment," said study co-author Karl Luber, M.D., a uro-gynecologist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center.
Dr. Luber's advice for women with overactive bladders and urgency to urinate, involuntary leaking of urine during physical activity, anal incontinence or sagging pelvic organs is to get educated through internet research or books on the subject, and then find a physician who is trained in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery to seek treatment.
"Among the available options for treatment for these common disorders are physical therapy to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, devices that can be fit to support your vaginal walls, and surgery. Many of today's surgeries are very non-invasive and can be done as an outpatient," Luber said.
This research surveyed women in the general community, not just those seeking treatment for these conditions, and studied several different common pelvic floor disorders. Based on the findings of this study, clinicians have better clues about what else to ask women about when they have symptoms of one condition and what conditions may cluster together.
More than 15 million women in the United States have stress urinary incontinence and 16 million women have an overactive bladder. One in 10 women suffers from anal incontinence, with one in 15 experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. Over a woman's lifetime, 11 percent are likely to have pelvic surgery for urinary incontinence and/or prolapse while 29 percent will have multiple surgeries for pelvic floor disorders, according to previous studies published in Neurological Urodynamics and Urology.
With statistics like these, women need to know how to best protect their health by seeking out solutions to maintain and/or restore their quality of life and full functionality. "Women need to know how to find and gain access to experts like those at Kaiser Permanente who are committed both in their research and in clinical practice to delivering outstanding continence care. That's why consumer education and advocacy organizations like NAFC exist," said Nancy Muller, executive director of the National Association for Continence.
Women who would like more information about the NAFC can access its website at www.nafc.org or call NAFC at 800-BLADDER (800 252-3337).
This study was initiated so that Kaiser Permanente could better understand and serve women with these conditions.
Major contributions to this work were made by co-authors on the study included Emily S. Lukacz, MD, MAS, and Charles W. Nager, MD, of UC-San Diego Medical Center, and Jin-Wen Y. Hsu, Ph.D., of Kaiser Permanente's Department of Research and Evaluation.
About Kaiser Permanente's Department of Research and Evaluation
The Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation conducts high quality, innovative research that benefits the health of its members as well as in the general population. Fourteen full-time researchers with MDs, Ph.D.s or other doctoral degrees conduct research in the areas of childhood and adult diabetes, cancer, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, aging and cognition, pregnancy outcomes, and women's health and are trained in epidemiology, health services research, behavioral and social sciences, and clinical medicine. Kaiser Permanente has a very active clinical trials program.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
