International urogynecology journal
October 19, 2026 Ā· via Europe PMC
Pelvic Floor Knowledge, Toileting Behaviors, and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Women with Multiple Sclerosis.
Kiloatar H, Delibay AA, Demir CO, Ceylan D, Orucu A.
AI summary ā for doctors, generated from the abstract only
Women with multiple sclerosis report more bladder symptoms and less healthy toileting habits than matched women without MS.
What was studied
Cross-sectional survey of 59 women with MS and 60 demographically matched women without MS, using validated questionnaires on urinary symptoms, pelvic floor knowledge and toileting behaviors.
Key findings
- Women with MS had higher UDI-6 symptom scores, lower pelvic floor knowledge and more negative toileting behaviors.
- In both groups, worse urinary symptoms were linked mainly to premature voiding and straining to void.
- Pelvic floor knowledge was tied more to sociodemographic factors than to MS status.
Clinical relevance
Toileting behaviors are modifiable, so they offer a target for counseling alongside neurologic management of bladder symptoms in MS.
Who should care
Limitations
Small cross-sectional, self-reported design cannot show causality, and the abstract omits some statistics.
Ask women with MS about voiding habits such as straining and going 'just in case', and counsel on them.
This is an AI-generated summary of the published abstract, not a clinical recommendation. It may not reflect the full text or subsequent updates ā verify against the original source before acting on it.
Abstract
Introduction and hypothesis
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be influenced by neurological involvement as well as behavioral and knowledge-related factors. This study aimed to compare LUTS, pelvic floor health knowledge, and toileting behaviors between women with MS and demographically matched women without MS, examine their associations, and identify predictors of LUTS.
Methods
This cross-sectional survey included 59 women with MS and 60 demographically matched women without MS. LUTS were assessed using Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6) and Bristol Women's Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Questionnaire (BFLUTS). Pelvic floor health knowledge and toileting behaviors were evaluated using Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Quiz and Toileting Behavior-Women's Elimination Behaviors Scale, respectively.
Results
Women with MS had higher UDI-6 scores, lower pelvic floor health knowledge, and more negative toileting behaviors compared to women without MS (pāā0.05). In both groups, LUTS severity was positively associated mainly with premature voiding and straining voiding (pā<ā0.05). The final regression model explained 52.2% of the variance in UDI-6 scores; straining to void, premature voiding, and place preference for voiding were significant predictors.
Conclusion
Women with MS had higher LUTS and more negative toileting behaviors, while pelvic floor health knowledge was more closely associated with sociodemographic factors than MS status. These findings underscore the relevance of considering LUTS and toileting behaviors in women with MS.
DOI
10.1007/s00192-026-06946-4
PMID
42895641
Research metadata (titles, abstracts, authors, publication dates) is sourced from Europe PMC, which aggregates content from PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and other providers under the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM/NCBI). NLM does not claim copyright on abstracts; the original journal publishers or authors may hold rights to the full articles. AI-generated summaries are derived only from the abstract, never the full text, and are always labeled as AI-generated.
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