Quality of Life in Female Epispadias

Abstract

Introduction and Aim Female epispadias is a rare congenital anomaly associated with significant urinary incontinence. This study aims to evaluate the results of its treatment in terms of continence, sexuality, and impact of incontinence on quality of life.

Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed nine patients (5–39 years) treated of female epispadias in our hospital during the period 1976–2013. Urinary continence (ICIQ-SF), sexuality, impact of incontinence on quality of life (Potenziani-14-CI-IO-2000-QOL), and overall quality of life (SF-36) were evaluated.

Results All nine women were treated by bladder neck reconstruction (Young–Dees–Leadbetter) and genitoplasty; four received 2.5 (R = 1–5) endoscopic bladder neck injections; one required enterocystoplasty, urinary diversion, and bladder neck closure because of persistent incontinence; five performed pelvic floor rehabilitation; and two took anticholinergics. Three achieved continence; five had mild urinary incontinence; and 1 had moderate urinary incontinence and was awaiting an endoscopic injection. Of the seven who were older than 18 years, five answered the questionnaires of quality of life and sexuality. All had a general quality of life (SF-36) that does not differ from the normal population and had a slight impact (7 [0–15] points) of incontinence on quality of life (Potenziani-14-CI-IO-QOL-2000). Four had a normal sex life, and the fifth had lack of self-confidence due to her incontinence.

Conclusion Patients with female epispadias have good long-term results regarding quality of life and sexuality, despite having some degree of urinary incontinence.

Keywords

female epispadias - exstrophy–epispadias complex - quality of life - urinary incontinence

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