Concurrent occurrence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is more common in women with endometriosis, according to a recent study reported in Fertility and Sterility.

Researchers included 520 participants with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 641 without endometriosis for this study to study the association between endometriosis and urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). They were a part of the Womens Health Study: from Adolescence to Adulthood (A2A) between 2012 and 2018. Most of the participants in the endometriosis group were younger than 18 years (41.7%). Whereas, those without endometriosis were mostly in the 18-25 age group. The mean body mass index was comparable between the two groups; 23.2 vs. 22.6 kg/m2.Standardized questionnaires were used to procure information about the urinary symptoms.

More than half of women with endometriosis (56%) had some LUTS compared to those who did not have the disorder (34%). Nearly 8% of women with endometriosis described difficulty passing urine compared to just 2% of those without. They also reported bladder fullness even after urination (18.8% vs 4.7%) and the need to pass urine again within minutes of passing urine (33.1% vs 17.0%). Dysuria (11.7% vs. 4.9%) and pain or discomfort due to full bladder (23.0% vs 4.9%) were also more common among those with endometriosis.

The stage of the endometriosis or even the duration of symptoms of endometriosis had no effect on the probability of having lower urinary tract symptoms.

This study has shown a high association of LUTS with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis had 2- to 5-times greater probability of having various urinary symptoms such as difficulty passing urine, need to urinate again right after passing urine, dysuria. Due to the high prevalence of LUTS in women with endometriosis, LUTS should be looked for and managed at the same time when endometriosis is diagnosed and also along the course of the disease.

Reference

1. Gabriel I, et al. Association between endometriosis and lower urinary tract symptoms. Fertil Steril. 2022 Jan 31;S0015-0282(22)00003-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.01.003.