The Risk of Incontinence After Hysterectomy
How many women out there have incontinence? How many have had a hysterectomy?
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is one of the most reported health dilemmas of women suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms. In most countries, 15 to 40% of women face female SUI, which impacts women’s daily functions, social interactions, sexuality, and psychological well-being. SUI is a global health concern.
Hysterectomy is the first choice or at least one of the most preferred choices in treating many diseases and disorders like menometrorrhagia, leiomyoma, uterine prolapse, adenomyosis and postmenopausal bleeding.
The side effects of hysterectomy on the function of the lower-urinary-tract system are well known. Aoun and Roumeguère (2015) provided a comprehensive overview of postoperative lower urinary tract dysfunction. According to their study, lower urinary tract dysfunction is a common finding (70–85% prevalence) after hysterectomy, and its most frequent long-term sequela is stress urinary incontinence (40% of cases), and its management is complex and challenging
Prescribing pelvic floor exercises after a hysterectomy is necessary to prevent possible severe SUI. Women must be informed that SUI is a genuine complication of hysterectomy before considering it a treatment choice. Simply swapping one problem for another is not adequate treatment.
All women should take the Risk of Incontinence After Hysterectomy into account before embarking on this treatment option.
Concerned about your Hysterectomy?
Call Dr Victoria Handley on 0800 470 2009 or email vhandley@handleylaw.co.uk