Affiliation:
1. Department of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Southern Denmark Odense Denmark
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Aarhus University Hospital Aarhus Denmark
3. School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, and Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Bond University Gold Coast Queensland Australia
4. ACT Government, Health Directorate and Faculty of Health University of Canberra New South Wales Australia
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundAlthough gynecological health issues are common and cause considerable distress, little is known about their causes. We examined how birth history is associated with urinary incontinence (UI), severe period pain, heavy periods, and endometriosis.MethodsWe studied 7700 women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health with an average follow‐up of 10.9 years after their last birth. Surveys every third year provided information about birth history and gynecological health. Logistic regression was used to estimate how parity, mode of birth, and vaginal tears were associated with gynecological health issues. Presented results are adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.ResultsUI was reported by 16%, heavy periods by 31%, severe period pain by 28%, and endometriosis by 4%. Compared with women with two children, nonparous women had less UI (OR 0.35 [0.26–0.47]) but tended to have more endometriosis (OR 1.70 [0.97–2.96]). Also, women with only one child had less UI (OR 0.77 [0.61–0.98]), but more severe period pain (OR 1.24 [1.01–1.51]). Women with 4+ children had more heavy periods (OR 1.42 [1.07–1.88]). Compared with women with vaginal birth(s) only, women with only cesarean sections or vaginal birth after cesarean section had less UI (ORs 0.44 [0.34–0.58] and 0.55 [0.40–0.76]), but more endometriosis (ORs 1.91 [1.16–3.16] and 2.31 [1.25–4.28]) and heavy periods (ORs 1.21 [1.00–1.46] and 1.35 [1.06–1.72]). Vaginal tear(s) did not increase UI after accounting for parity and birth mode.ConclusionWhile women with vaginal childbirth(s) reported more urinary incontinence, they had less menstrual complaints and endometriosis.
Subject
Obstetrics and Gynecology