The help-seeking by women with urinary incontinence in Brazil

Introduction and hypothesis Lower tract urinary symptoms are underestimated by women as well as health professionals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of adult women with urinary incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms in seeking medical treatment. Methods Two hundred ninety-two women between 20 and 82 years old were interviewed. Urinary symptoms, epidemiologic, and quality of life (ICQ-SF) were related to the procurement of medical assistance. The Shapiro–Wilk, Mann–Whitney, and chi-square tests were used. Results The impact of the symptoms on quality of life was greater in younger women. Twenty-two percent of the participants, mainly the younger ones, reported seeking medical services due to several associated symptoms and quality of life impact. Conclusion Younger women, association of several urinary symptoms, symptoms of urinary loss, and longer time since symptom onset were determining factors for seeking medical treatment.