Urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction in type 1 diabetic pregnant women: preliminary results

Introduction: Pregnancy and diabetes mellitus can promote various musculoskeletal disorders, predisposing individuals to urinary and sexual dysfunction. Objective: To evaluate the frequency of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, analytical study was conducted. Thirteen pregnant women with type 1 diabetes were assessed from April 2017 to February 2018 using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The statistical program SPSS version 20.1 was used for data analysis to determine the mean and standard deviation, central tendency and dispersion, and absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies. The Pearson linear correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between the ICIQ-SF and the FSFI. Results: The frequency of urinary incontinence was 38.5%, which produced a slight impact on the quality of life of pregnant women. The FSFI general score was 20.49, identifying the presence of sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26). In the group of pregnant women, 92.3% (n = 12) presented sexual dysfunction, and the satisfaction and arousal domains showed a higher frequency of problems. The ICIQ-SF and FSFI showed a moderate but not significant correlation (r = 0.534, p = 0.60). The data exhibited a normal distribution according to Levene’s test. Conclusion: The frequency of urinary incontinence in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes was low, but sexual dysfunction was present, and the satisfaction and arousal domains showed the highest frequency of problems.