Lower urinary tract symptoms in women and quality of life

Abstract

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) are the most common symptoms in women at all age groups worldwide, and their prevalence is increasing with age. LUTSs have a multifactorial status. The risk factors are age, race, pregnancy, birth, menopause, hysterectomy, obesity, chronic cough, depression, profession and family history. LUTSs have negative effects on women's quality of life, especially on the medical, physical, social, psychological, economical and sexual aspects. Studies report a relationship between the sexual dysfunction and urogynaecological diseases. Although the pathophysiology of high prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with LUTS is not well known, it is estimated that the LUTS and sexual dysfunction occur due to the effects of low oestrogen levels on vagina, urethra, trigone epithelium and the atrophy of pelvic floor muscles. Especially women, who experience urinary incontinence (UI) and subgroup problems, report more common sexual dysfunctions (hypoactive sexual desire disorder, very urgent need for urination during the sexual intercourse and leakage, lack of sexual arousal, orgasm problems, sexual pain disorders). Despite the high prevalence of LUTS and its negative effects on the quality of life, the help-seeking behaviours of women for overcoming LUTS differ according to the level of disturbance. Nurses should cooperate with other health care personnel in LUTS prevention, diagnosis, treatment/follow-up, in the diagnosis of sexual dysfunction due to LUTS and its management. This article discusses the prevalence of LUTS, the risk factors of LUTS, the quality of life of women with LUTS, the negative effects of LUTS on sexual life and its nursing care.