title: Quality of life and urinary incontinence in women.
abstract: Urinary incontinence greatly diminishes quality of life. It is important to diagnose the three main types of urinary incontinence correctly - stress, urge or mixed incontinence - and to evaluate the impact of incontinence on quality of life. After a detailed history, a bladder diary and questionnaires are the most useful tools with which to determine what aspects of quality of life are most impaired - daily, work-related, recreational or sexual activities. In general, urgency and urge incontinence have a worse effect on quality of life than stress urinary incontinence. Measures of quality of life have become essential in developing management plans and in follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Landesklinikum Thermenregion Moedling, Moedling, Austria. paul.riss@gmx.net
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riss
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kargl
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress; D053202:Urinary Incontinence, Urge