Relationship between education and sexual activity in incontinent women

Nale D1, Nale P2, Babic U1, Petrovic M3, Mitrinovic N4

Research Type

Clinical

Abstract Category

Female Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract 246
Urogynaecology 5 - Female Sexual dysfunction
Scientific Podium Short Oral Session 21
Saturday 20th September 2025
09:37 - 09:45
Parallel Hall 3
Sexual Dysfunction Incontinence Mixed Urinary Incontinence Stress Urinary Incontinence Urgency Urinary Incontinence
1. 1Clinic of Urology, UKCS, Belgrade, 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 2. 1Clinic of Urology, UKCS, Belgrade, 3. 3Clinical Hospital Center Dedinje, Belgrade, 4. 4 Mathematical Grammar School, Belgrade, Serbia.
Presenter
D

Djordje Nale
1Clinic of Urology, UKCS, Belgrade, 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
Links

Abstract

Hypothesis / aims of study 
Urinary incontinence (UI) negatively affects the quality of life and sexual health. On the other hand, sexuality has an important impact on woman's physical and mental health. The objective of our study was to investigate the association between level of education and sexual activity in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with different types of urinary incontinence.
Study design, materials and methods 
This study was multicentric, clinical-epidemiological and cross-sectional. A consecutive sample of 547 female patients, average age 58.3±11.2 years with different types of urinary incontinence attending the Clinic of urology and urological department of general hospital were invited to participate in this study. The criterion for inclusion in the study were: age over 18 years, was not pregnant, presence of prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence (or any combination). Criteria for exclusion from the study were women with vesicovaginal fistula, women with history of pelvic/gynecological radiation, vulvodynia, painful bladder syndrome and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (defined as pelvic pain for more than 6 months). Sexual abstinence was defined as the absence of any sexual activity with a partner for more than 6 months. Sexual activity includes any kind of activity aimed at experiencing sexual satisfaction and enjoyment. The term sexual activity does not necessarily include sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal penetration). Avoidance of sex was defined as the extent to which a female partner is actively avoiding having sex. Sexual inactivity included women who avoided sex and abstained from sex. A chi-square test is used to see if there is a relationship between two categorical variables.
Results 
Demographic and clinical characteristics of sexually active and sexually inactive women with different types of incontinence are presented in Table 1. Chi-square test result shows there is significant relation between sexual activity and education (p-value=0.000) (Graph 1.)
Interpretation of results 
Women with more education maintain sexual activity despite having urinary incontinence, probably because they better understand and accept the problem of urinary incontinence.
Concluding message 
Higher education in women with urinary incontinence significantly affects their continued sexual activity despite the presence of incontinence.
Figure 1 Graph 1. Distribution of women with urinary incontinence in relation to sexual activity and level of education
Figure 2 Table 1. Demographic and clinical characteristics of sexually active and sexually inactive women with different types of incontinence. The data presented are number (%) or mean ± SD. *Represents number of missing data.
Disclosures
Funding No source of funding or grant Clinical Trial Yes Public Registry No RCT Yes Subjects Human Ethics Committee The study was approved by Ethics Committee of the University Clinical Centre of Belgrade (No: 623/2). Helsinki Yes Informed Consent Yes
Citation

Continence 15S (2025) 102170
DOI: 10.1016/j.cont.2025.102170

29/07/2025 21:58:25