RESULTSOf the women who responded, 35% reported involuntary loss of urine in the preceding 30 days; stress urinary incontinence was the most prevalent type. The lowest prevalence was in Spain (23%), while the prevalence was 44%, 41% and 42% for France, Germany and the UK, respectively. About a quarter of women with urinary incontinence in Spain (24%) and the UK (25%) had consulted a doctor about it; in France (33%) and Germany (40%) the percentages were higher. Overall, <5% of the women had ever undergone surgery for their condition. While pads were used by half of the women, there were some differences among the countries. CONCLUSIONSMillions of women in Europe have urinary incontinence; the consultation and treatment rates were low in the European countries included in this study. KEYWORDSurinary incontinence, prevalence, community-based survey, type of incontinence, treatment of incontinence OBJECTIVETo determine the prevalence, type and treatment behaviour of women with urinary incontinence in four European countries. SUBJECTS AND METHODSData were collected using a postal survey which was sent to 29 500 communitydwelling women aged ≥ 18 years in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Subjects were asked about the type of urinary incontinence they had experienced and their treatment behaviour.

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A total of 1573 women responded to the follow-up questionnaire, of which > 80% reported that their urinary incontinence symptoms were bothersome. The greatest negative effect appeared to be on physical activities, confidence, self-perception and social activities, with a statistically significant correlation between an increase in bothersomeness and an increase in severity of symptoms. Similarly, a negative impact on QoL was associated with an increase in severity of incontinence. The variables: country, urinary incontinence type, severity, age, number of medical conditions and number of leakages had a statistically significant influence on the bother and the validated incontinence QoL (I-QoL) questionnaire scores. CONCLUSIONThe extent to which women are bothered by their urinary incontinence and report that their symptoms have a negative impact on their QoL is largely subjective. In determining the most appropriate management, physicians should consider the experience of being incontinent as unique to each individual. KEYWORDS urinary incontinence, type of incontinence, quality of life, bothersomeness OBJECTIVETo assess the bothersomeness and impact on quality of life (QoL) of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. SUBJECTS AND METHODSA detailed follow-up questionnaire was mailed to 2960 randomly-selected women who had reported symptoms of urinary incontinence in an earlier survey of 29 500 representative households in four European countries. In the second questionnaire, women were asked about the severity of their symptoms, the impact of urinary incontinence on their QoL, and how bothersome their incontinence was.

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