The effects of urinary incontinence in women.

Urinary incontinence has usually been assessed in the laboratory and no previous attempt has been made to measure the degree and extent of restrictions which are imposed on the individual. A scale was developed to measure the effect of being incontinent. This scale was derived from a questionnaire administered to women attending a urodynamic clinic. In these patients, all of whom had established urinary incontinence, the major problems encountered were in social and mental well-being, including sexual difficulties and embarrassment. The degree of incontinence did not co-relate with the degree of disability.