Risk of urinary incontinence symptoms in oral contraceptive users: a national cohort study from the Swedish Twin Register.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of oral contraceptives on lower urinary tract dysfunction in premenopausal women.


METHODS
Nationwide cohort study.


METHODS
National registry.


METHODS
A total of 10,791 women (born 1959-1985) from the population- based Swedish Twin Registry who participated in a web-based survey of common diseases.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Symptoms of urinary incontinence.


RESULTS
For users of oral contraception there was a significantly reduced risk for symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, mixed urinary incontinence, and urgency urinary incontinence. The reduction remained significant when adjusting for age, body mass index, and pregnancy history. A reduced prevalence of symptoms of overactive bladder in oral contraceptive users was also observed although the association was nonsignificant. There were no significant associations between lower urinary tract symptoms and women using a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device compared with noncontraceptive users, with the exception of nocturia.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral contraceptive use reduces the overall risk for symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Iliadou
Anastasia
A
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Milsom
Ian
I
Pedersen
Nancy L
NL
Altman
Daniel
D
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014427:Twins; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral