United States – Postpartum urinary incontinence is not an uncommon phenomenon, but it can significantly impact a mother, researchers claim in a new study.
The new study found that these bladder leaks are highly in relation with anxiety and depression in new moms.
Mental Health Correlation
“If you have bad enough incontinence, you might feel isolated and embarrassed and have difficulty connecting socially,” said co-lead researcher Dr. David Rahn, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas-Southwestern. “It’s not hard to imagine how urinary incontinence might lead to mental health struggles,” as reported by HealthDay.
Study Insights
In the study, 419 new women who were part of a new post-pregnancy care program in Dallas County were followed by the researchers.
Of all the women studied, nearly one-third were diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence, described as leakage resulting from activities such as coughing, sneezing, or jumping, the findings revealed.
Additionally, one in six women reported having urgent urinary incontinence or leakage after feeling the need to urinate urgently despite not having drunk much water.
But 1 in 9 women had overall bothersome urinary symptoms, researchers found.
There were no such associations with stress or urgency incontinence or with conventional risk factors such as large babies or complicated deliveries; the researchers pointed out.
Stress incontinence was also related to increased BMI at the birth of the mom and increased depression level. In contrast, urgency incontinence was related to a number of births and increased anxiety levels.
Recommendations for Healthcare Providers
The new study was published recently in the ‘Urogynecology’ journal.
Gynecologists carrying out postnatal care should routinely enquire about urinary incontinence and depressive symptoms, according to the first study’s co-author, Dr. Sonia Bhandari Randhawa, a second-year urogynecology fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Center, as reported by HealthDay.
“It’s so important for providers to ask questions about urinary incontinence, depression, and anxiety, even if they don’t have time to discuss these topics in depth,” Bhandari Randhawa said in a university news release. “Having the right referral for these treatable conditions can make a huge difference in patients’ lives.”