In general, it is estimated that millions of women worldwide are affected by pelvic floor (PF) disorders, which affect negatively their social, sexual, psychological and financial well-being, that can result in social isolation and worse quality of life [1]. Among the types of disorders, urinary incontinence (UI) is extremely prevalent, with an approximate rate of 300 million women, whether stress, urgency or mixed UI, the involuntary leakage of urine negatively impacts the socialization and sexual activity of these women [2]. Considering that the World Health Organization defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality, it is understood that any change in one of these factors will influence the sexual response [3]. Recent studies show that the incidence of sexual dysfunction in women with some degree of dysfunction in the PF is higher than in the general population, and that, in the case of UI, there is a decrease in sexual well-being regardless of the type of UI [2]. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the sexual function of Brazilian women with UI.

A cross-sectional study was carried out, with analysis and data collection in the online format. Were recruited Brazilian women over 18 years old and with some type of UI according to a report and an affirmative answer in one of the two questions of the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) that classifies as stress or urgency UI. Data collection involved filling in a questionnaire with personal, sociodemographic, general health and lifestyle questions to characterize the participants; two KHQ questions to classify them as incontinent; and completing the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) to assess the effect of UI on sexual function. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program (version 21.0) and data were presented descriptively using absolute, relative, mean and standard deviation frequency values.

A total of 282 Brazilian women with some degree of UI and a mean age of 31.1 years (± 9.7) participated in the study. Most of the participants were white (71.6%), with higher education (46.8%), regular physical exercise practitioners (53.9%), without children (55.3%) and without a history of gynecological surgery (85.1%). The mean PISQ-12 score was 9.4 ± 5.3.

The PISQ-12 instrument has three domains, which assess behavioral/emotional, physical and partner-related factors. Its total score ranges from 0 to 48, classifying the highest values ​​as better sexual function. Despite being divided into three domains, there is no consensus on the interpretation of values ​​in isolation, but there is consensus on the assessment of the instrument's total score. Thus, in this study, the participants presented very low values, confirming what is described in the literature about the negative impact of any type or degree of UI on the sexual function of these women.

The low score on the questionnaire demonstrates a worse sexual function in Brazilian women with UI.

Verbeek, M. & Hayward, l. Pelvic floor dysfunction and its effect on quality of sexual life. Sex Med Rev. 7:559-564. 2019.
Radziminska, A.; Stracznska, A.; Weber-Rajek, M.; Styczynska, H.; Strojek, K. & Piekorz, Z. The impact of pelvic floor muscle training on the quality of life of women with urinary incontinence: a systematic literature review. Clinics Interventions in Aging. 13:957-965. 2018.
World Health Organization. Defining sexual health: report of  a technical consultation on sexual health. 28-31. January 2002. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2006.