Urinary incontinence in elite female athletes and dancers.

The aim of this study was, to determine the frequency of urinary loss in elite women athletes and dancers. Elite athletes in eight different sports, including ballet, filled in an evaluated questionnaire about urinary incontinence while participating in their sport/dancing and during daily life activities. A total of 291 women with a mean age of 22.8 years completed the questionnaire, providing a response rate of 73.9%. Overall, 151 women (51.9%) had experienced urine loss, 125 (43%) while participating in their sport and 123 (42%) during daily life. The proportion of urinary leakage in the different sports was: gymnastics 56%, ballet 43%, aerobics 40%, badminton 31%, volleyball 30%, athletics 25%, handball 21% and basketball 17%. During sport 44% had experienced leakage a few times, 46.4% now and then, and 9.6% frequently. During daily life the figures were: 61.7% a few times, 37.4% now and then, and 0.8% frequently. Of those who leaked during sport, 95.2% experienced urine loss while training versus only 51.2% during competition (P<0.001). The activity most likely to provoke leakage was jumping. Sixty per cent (91/151) occasionally wore pads or panty shields because of urine loss. Urinary leakage is common among elite athletes and dancers, particularly during training, but also during daily life activities.

[Spontaneous abortion. Drug treatment versus surgery]. / Spontan abort. Medicinsk versus kirurgisk behandling.

INTRODUCTION: Studies of conservative management of early miscarriage have questioned the need for post abortem curettage. METHODS: A prospective, randomised study was carried out to clarify the effect of vaginal administration of a prostaglandin E1 analogue (gemeprost) versus surgical management (curettage) of miscarriages at up to twelve weeks of gestation. A questionnaire revealed discomfort as bleeding and pain. RESULTS: The study comprised 61 patients: group 1 (n: 27) with an endometrial thickness less than 10 mm managed by expectancy, and group 2 with an endometrial thickness greater than 10 mm; group 2 was randomised to group 2A (n: 17), given gemeprost, and group 2B (n: 17), underwent curettage. On entry the mean gestational ages were 51 and 67.5 days for groups 1 and 2, respectively; transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a mean endometrial thickness of 8 mm in group 1 and 19 mm in group 2. One week later this was reduced to 4 mm in group 1 and 5.7 mm in group 2. The duration of vaginal bleeding was similar in all groups, with a mean of 1 week (2-3 days of moderate/heavy bleeding and 6-10 of no bleeding or spotting). The discomfort experienced was similar in all groups (a mean of 36-48 hours of moderate/strong pain and 7-10 days of no or insignificant pain). DISCUSSIONS: Conservative treatment can substitute general anesthesia and curettage in the management of complete spontaneous abortions with fresh vaginal bleeding and an endometrial thickness of up to 10 mm. Vaginal administration of 1 mg gemeprost can substitute general anesthesia and curettage in the management of incomplete spontaneous abortions of up to 12 weeks of gestation and absence of a gestation sac.