# Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Pregnant Women in Yazd, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how common lower urinary tract symptoms are in pregnant women in Yazd, Iran, and finds that symptoms like frequent nighttime urination and stress incontinence are widespread.

## Contribution

The study provides new data on LUTS prevalence and risk factors in pregnant women in Yazd, Iran, using a locally adapted questionnaire.

## Key findings

- Nocturia was the most common symptom, affecting 83.9% of pregnant women.
- Stress urinary incontinence was the most prevalent type of incontinence (45.1%).
- Advancing gestational age was significantly linked to increased bladder filling and incontinence symptoms.

## Abstract

Introduction: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common and significant concern during pregnancy; however, research on LUTS in pregnant women in Iran, particularly in Yazd, is limited. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of LUTS in pregnant women in Yazd, Iran.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending routine antenatal visits in Yazd between October 2022 and May 2023. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from patients’ medical records. LUTS were assessed using the structured Persian version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Female LUTS (ICIQ-FLUTS) long form.

Results: Out of the 422 pregnant women initially enrolled, 397 met the inclusion criteria. The most prevalent bladder filling symptom was nocturia (83.9%), followed by increased frequency (52.1%) and urgency (46.9%). Voiding symptoms were less common, with interrupted stream (27.2%) and hesitancy (11.3%) being the most reported. Stress urinary incontinence was the most prevalent type of incontinence (45.1%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advancing gestational age was significantly associated with increased odds of both bladder filling (odds ratio (OR) = 1.09; p < 0.001) and urinary incontinence symptoms (OR = 1.02; p = 0.044). While higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased odds of urinary incontinence, the association was not statistically significant (p = 0.078). No significant predictors were found for voiding symptoms.

Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of LUTS, especially nocturia and stress urinary incontinence, among pregnant women in Yazd. Advancing gestational age and higher BMI were associated with increased symptoms, while gestational diabetes was linked to greater voiding difficulties. These findings emphasize the importance of routine screening and early intervention to minimize the impact of LUTS on maternal quality of life.