The Effect of Urinary Incontinence on Sexual Quality of Life in Women with Chronic Physical Diseases

This study was conducted in order to determine the effect of the presence of urinary incontinence on sexual quality of life in women diagnosed with chronic physical diseases. The sample of the cross sectional and comparative study consisted of 67.5 % (n = 191) female inpatients with and 32.5 % (n = 92) female inpatients without urinary incontinence complaints being treated for chronic physical diseases in the internal diseases clinic of a public hospital. Data was collected using the patient identification form, the International Incontinence Consultation Questionnaire-Short Form and the Sexual Quality of Life Scale for Women. The average score that women with urinary incontinence took from the sexual quality of life scale (61.50 +/- 19.10) was lower than the average score of women without urinary incontinence (77.19 +/- 18.75) (p < 0.01). There was a negative meaningful relationship between the frequency, amount, and effect of urinary incontinence and sexual quality of life (p < 0.05). The sexual quality of life of women who were 50 years of age and above, who had respiratory system diseases, had a duration of illness between 6 and 10 years, perceived their general health as bad, parity and gave normal birth, were in their menopausal period, and had hysterectomies was significantly lower (p < 0.05). As a result, in women with chronic physical diseases and urinary incontinence, the sexual quality of life is affected in a worse level compared to those who do not have urinary incontinence.