title: Prevalence of anal incontinence during pregnancy and 1 year after delivery in a cohort of primiparous women and a control group of nulliparous women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of anal incontinence (AI) during pregnancy and 1 year after delivery in primiparous women and to compare it with the prevalences in nulliparous women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A validated questionnaire regarding AI was filled in by 1018 primiparous women after delivery and by 1836 nulliparous women (baseline). A similar questionnaire was filled in 1 year later by both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline the prevalence of flatus incontinence was significantly higher in the primiparous than the nulliparous women (35 vs. 25%), while incontinence for liquid stools was significantly less frequent (8 vs. 20%). Prevalences of incontinence for solid stools were similar. One year later the prevalence of AI was similar in the two groups (flatus incontinence 24 vs. 25%, incontinence for liquid stools 18 vs. 19% and incontinence for solid stools 4 vs. 3%). AI 1 year after the delivery was not related to the mode of delivery. Women with grade 3 or 4 perineal lesions had a significantly higher prevalence of flatus incontinence 1 year after the delivery compared with women without such lesions (48 vs. 23%, p = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prospective cohort study showed remarkably high prevalences of AI during pregnancy and 1 year after delivery in primiparous women and likewise in nulliparous women at baseline and 1 year later. These results may indicate that factors other than pregnancy and delivery are of importance for AI in young women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4554-2455
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Svare
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bent B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2604-7264
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Anal incontinence; delivery; flatus incontinence; parity; pregnancy