Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Pregnant Adolescents and the Influencing Factors

Abstract Study Objective To determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and associated risk factors in pregnant adolescents. Design A descriptive study. Setting The obstetrics and gynecology outpatient departments of a training and research hospital in Turkey. Participants 206 pregnant adolescents under the age of 19. Interventions None. Questionnaire-based data and the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms-Short Form (BFLUTS-SF) were collected from pregnant adolescents. Main Outcome Measures Comparisons were made with independent samples t test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Linear regression for the analysis of the potential risk factors. Results The prevalence of at least one LUTS in pregnant adolescents was 78.6%. The prevalence of storage symptoms was more than those of urinary incontinence (UI) and voiding symptoms. Among LUTS, the prevalence of nocturia, urgency, frequency, bladder pain, and UI was 59.3%, 54.4%, 39.3%, 37.1%, 27.2%, respectively. 23.8% of pregnant adolescents with LUTS reported seeking treatment for LUTS in this study. The total median scores from the BFLUTS-SF increased with gestational week, but it no statistical significant difference was identified (p>0.05). According to the results of the linear regression analysis, daily coffee consumption, smoking, chronic coughing, constipation, and urinary tract infection history, were found to be associated with the total mean score on the BFLUTS-SF in pregnant adolescents. Conclusion LUTS were found to be common among pregnant adolescents, with storage symptoms being the most frequently reported. Prenatal education could increase the number of adolescents who seek treatment, thereby improving the clinical course of LUTS.