ABSTRACT
Female incontinence and pelvic floor disorders have gained increased recognition for their widespread prevalence and the substantial burden they impose upon postreproductive women in medical, psychosocial and economic terms. Only recently have these conditions been evaluated among women who have undergone delivery of a multiple gestation. The Evanston Continence Center Mothers of Multiples (MOM) Study1,2 investigated incontinence and pelvic floor symptoms, together with the risk factors associated with these symptoms, within a large cohort of mothers of multiples attending the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs (NOMTC) annual meetings in 2001. An anonymous 77-item questionnaire included two validated quality of life measures: the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire, and Urogenital Distress Inventory3. From the target population of 769 women, 733 responded (95.3%). Of these, 94% were Caucasian, with a mean age 37 years (22-75 years), and parity 3.0 (2-12). The mean elapsed time since delivery was 7.6 years (standard deviation (SD) 9.5). The gestational order was twins among 93.4% of the respondents, triplets for 5.3%, and the remaining women reported higher-order births.
