Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anal incontinence [AI] in women attending a urogynecology clinic, and to identify factors associated with AI in the urogynecologic patients.

Materials and Methods: Medical records of women with pelvic floor symptoms attending a urogynecology clinic between January 2011 and December 2015 were reviewed. Demographic data including age, parity, menopausal status, medical history, history of vaginal delivery, and hysterectomy were collected. Selected pelvic floor symptoms (stress urinary incontinence [SUI], urgency urinary incontinence [UUI], pelvic organ prolapse [POP], and AI) evaluated by the validated, self-administered Thai version of Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire [PFBQ] were recorded. Demographic data and pelvic floor symptoms between the patients with or without AI were analysed.

Results: The mean age of the 1,068 subjects was 62.9±11.5 years. Nine hundred twenty-five (86.6%) were menopause. According to PFBQ, 451 (42.2%) women reported AI. The prevalence of combined AI with SUI only, UUI, mixed UI, and POP were 33.1, 28.0, 24.7, and 25.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated history of vaginal delivery, previous hysterectomy, presence of SUI, and UUI symptoms as the risk factors for AI.

Conclusion: AI is a prevalent condition in women attending a urogynecology clinic. Combined AI with other pelvic floor symptoms is also common. Women with previous vaginal delivery, hysterectomy, symptom of SUI, and UUI should be evaluated for AI.

Keywords: Anal incontinence, Pelvic floor symptoms