Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Its Impact on Quality of Life Among Women in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common yet underrecognized condition among women and is associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social consequences. Despite its significant impact on quality of life, many affected women do not seek medical care because of embarrassment, stigma, or misconceptions regarding the condition. Limited data are available regarding the burden of UI and its effect on the quality of life among women in Saudi Arabia. Objective: To assess the prevalence of urinary incontinence and evaluate its impact on quality of life among women in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among women residing in Saudi Arabia using a structured self-administered electronic questionnaire. Adult women aged 18 years and older were included, while pregnant women and those with neurological disorders affecting bladder function were excluded. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and medical history, urinary incontinence characteristics, quality of life impact, and health-seeking behavior. Quality of life was assessed using Likert-scale responses across multiple domains. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA), and associations between urinary incontinence and selected variables were evaluated using the chi-square test, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 442 women participated in the study. Urinary incontinence was reported by 40.3% (n = 178) of participants, while 59.7% (n = 264) reported no symptoms. Stress urinary incontinence was the most common subtype, reported by 38.2% (n = 68) of affected women, followed by mixed urinary incontinence in 32.6% (n = 58) and urge urinary incontinence in 23.6% (n = 42). The prevalence of UI increased with age, reaching 61.1% (n = 44) among women aged 50 years or older. Moderate to severe impairment in overall quality of life was reported by 61.8% (n = 110) of affected participants. Emotional well-being was moderately to severely affected in 65.2% (n = 116), while daily activities were moderately to severely affected in 61.8% (n = 110). Despite the significant burden, only 36.0% (n = 64) of affected women sought medical advice, whereas 64.0% (n = 114) did not seek healthcare. The most common barriers to seeking care were embarrassment, reported by 36.8% (n = 42), and the belief that UI is a normal condition, reported by 29.8% (n = 34). Conclusion: Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent among women in Saudi Arabia and is associated with considerable impairment in quality of life. The condition particularly affects emotional well-being, daily functioning, and social participation. Despite its impact, healthcare-seeking behavior remains low because of social and cultural barriers. Increased awareness, early screening, and targeted public health interventions are essential to improve recognition, management, and quality of life outcomes among affected women.