Distribution of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in adult women

Objective: To determine the distribution of lower urinary tract symptoms in adult women and the frequency with which the women consulted a health care provider for their symptoms. Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Community Health Center of Aga Khan University Hospital from November 1st to 30th, 2002. Subjects and Methods: A trained interviewer administered a structured questionnaire to women patients or attendants aged 18 years and older coming to the center. Results: Fifty-two percent of the study subjects reported having at least one or more urinary complaints in the past. Stress incontinence was the highest reported complaint (38.4%) followed by burning (34.4%), frequency (26%), painful micturition (20.4%), urge incontinence (18.8 %), incomplete emptying of bladder (14.4%), dribbling (12.4%) and poor stream (8.4%). Forty-three percent of the women with LUTS never consulted a health care provider for their problem. Conclusion: Although the distribution of LUTS among females was found to be high, the patients did not consider it important enough to consult a health care provider. There is a need to create awareness among females regarding LUTS and the need to consult a health care provider for their problems.