Prevalence of urinary urgency symptoms decreases by mid-urethral sling procedures for treatment of stress incontinence

Introduction and hypothesis Conflicting opinions on the effect of incontinence surgery on the prevalence of postoperative urgency symptoms exists. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of urgency symptoms preoperatively and during 3-year of follow-up in women undergoing mid-urethral sling procedures for stress incontinence. Methods Two hundred and sixty-seven women were randomly assigned to a retropubic or a transobturator operation. Detrusor instability score (DIS) and Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) questionnaires were used to assess prevalence of urgency symptoms. The Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7, visual analog scale, urinary incontinence severity score, and the EuroQol-5D assessed overall quality of life changes. Results A significant decrease in the DIS and UDI-6 score was seen postoperatively. Signs of de novo urgency symptoms were low. Conclusions Mid-urethral sling procedures can be recommended in cases of mixed incontinence, and the procedures seems to decrease prevalence of urgency symptoms.