Urinary voiding patterns of apparently normal women.

A survey of 886 women who considered themselves to be normal was carried out to determine voiding habits in the population and the prevalence of urinary incontinence of any degree. Eighty-eight percent voided at 3-6 hourly intervals. Increasing age did not affect the frequency of micturition but parturition did. Nocturia was present in 18% but increased with age. Thirty-two percent of the study group admitted to having had one or more episodes of incontinence. Having borne a child increased the prevalence of incontinence but increasing age did not. There was a small but significant occurrence of apparent sphincter weakness in nulliparas.