Urinary Incontinence and Menopausal Symptom Burden.

Abstract

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common midlife symptom that often co-occurs with other menopausal changes. In this cross-sectional survey of 2,084 Oregon residents (approximately 30% rural), 45.8% reported UI. Menopause symptoms burden, measured by the Menopause Rating Scale, was higher for every UI subtype (all P <.001). Moderate-to-severe menopause burden increased adjusted odds of stress, urgency, and mixed UI 2-fold to 13-fold ( P <.001). Reported evaluation and treatment rates were low across all UI subtypes (2.0-14.6%), and it remains unclear how often participants were screened or asked about symptoms by health care professionals. This highlights the need to address both actual and perceived gaps in menopause and continence care through proactive, patient-centered screening.