The Prevalence and Severity of Urinary Incontinence in Women

One thousand and sixty women aged 18 or over, randomly selected from a defined geographical area in South Wales, were interviewed at home about their urinary symptoms. Ninety-five per cent co-operated, of whom 45% admitted to some degree of incontinence. "Stress' incontinence was reported by 22% of women, "urge' incontinence by 10%, and both types combined--"complex'--by 14%. In most women urinary loss was both small and infrequent but 5% of all women experienced a loss sufficient to necessitate a change of clothes; in 2.6% such loss occurred daily. Over 3% of all women reported that incontinence interfered with their social or domestic life but only half of these had sought medical advice.