In the most comprehensive study of its kind ever, doctors studied 4,000 women aged 25 to 84, to determine the extent of a cluster of disorders generally thought to be age related. In order to gather the most widespread data, a survey was taken in both English and Spanish. Some of the women surveyed had sought treatment for one or more of these conditions, but others had not. The surprising results indicate one in every three women experiences one or more of these disorders over the course of a lifetime, but not necessarily as they age. Vaginal delivery, but not cesarean delivery, is closely associated with these disorders.

Of the study population of 4,000 women, of which 80% had given birth, 25% reported anal incontinence and 15% reported stress urinary incontinence. Thirteen percent of survey respondents suffered from overactive bladder and 6% had pelvic organ prolapse, or the dropping of organs in the pelvic area.

These conditions have a significant effect on quality of life but many women consider them something to be dealt with silently instead of sharing their experiences or getting them corrected. Fortunately, surgery, often on an outpatient basis, can bring relief in many cases. Eleven percent of all women are expected to require pelvic surgery for prolapsed organs and/or urinary incontinence at some point in life. Multiple surgeries are required for about 29%.
Since these conditions have long been considered a matter of aging, younger women who experience them seem reluctant to discuss their symptoms, either with their friends and family or with their physicians. Women of all ages are affected, however, especially those who have given birth vaginally. Vaginal deliveries seem to double the rate of pelvic floor disorders compared to women who have never given birth or those who had Cesarean deliveries.
Estimates of women in the general population affected by these disorders include more than 15 million with stress urinary incontinence and 16 million with overactive bladders. The number of women suffering from anal incontinence is estimated at 10%, with one in every 15 reporting moderate to severe symptoms.
Researchers are hoping the study will shed light on this most intimate cluster of disorders so patients will research and discuss it more freely and seek medical treatment as appropriate. It is also expected that, by making doctors more aware of the prevalence of the condition and its tendency to occur in clusters, they will be better prepared to ask about the disorders.
The study was conducted by the Department of Research and Evaluation, a division of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. Jean M. Lawrence, ScD, MPH, MSSA, led the study. The journal, Obstetrics & Gynecology, published the full story of the study in the March issue.

Source: Kaiser Permanente Department of Research & Evaluation