does cesarean delivery reduce bladder symptoms later in life?
OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the impact of reproductive factors on the prevalence of urinary symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Participants were women scheduled for hysterectomy (n=1299). Before surgery, urinary symptoms were assessed by questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between bladder symptoms and parity, route of delivery, and other characteristics. RESULTS: Stress incontinence and urinary urgency were more prevalent among parous than nulliparous women (P <.01). Controlling for parity and other characteristics, women who had a history of cesarean delivery were significantly less likely to report stress incontinence than women with a history of vaginal delivery (odds ratio 0.60; 95% CI 0.39-0.93). CONCLUSION: Women who have undergone vaginal delivery are more likely to report stress incontinence than women who have delivered by cesarean section. Although this suggests that cesarean delivery might reduce incontine