Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms significantly affect women’s quality of life and are associated with psychological distress, social anxiety, and reduced sexual satisfaction. These symptoms can interfere with daily functioning, emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, and overall health status, thereby imposing a considerable burden on affected individuals and healthcare systems. Objective: To translate and validate the ICIQ-FLUTSsex questionnaire, a widely used tool for assessing sexual concerns related to lower urinary tract symptoms. Methodology: A cross-cultural validation study was conducted at Hussain Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Ethical approval was obtained from Riphah International University, and informed consent was secured from all participants. The translation process followed standardized guidelines, including forward translation, expert review, back translation, and pilot testing. A total of 130 women were included, 68 with lower urinary tract symptoms and 62 asymptomatic controls, with mean ages of 46.5±8.7 and 31.5±9.4 years, respectively. Among symptomatic participants, 38 sexually active women completed the ICIQ-FLUTSsex. Test-retest reliability was assessed by administering ICIQ-FLUTS, ICIQ-FLUTSqol, ICIQ-FLUTS-LF, and ICIQ-FLUTSsex twice with a 2-week interval. A pilot study was conducted on 10 females with lower urinary tract symptoms and associated sexual dysfunction. Content validity was evaluated by ten experts using the Content Validity Index. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s α, while reliability was assessed through weighted Kappa and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Discriminant validity was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: The questionnaires demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α: 0.854–0.972) and strong test-retest reliability (Kappa: 0.73–0.955; intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.803–0.992). Discriminant validity was acceptable (AUC: 0.657–0.97). After three months of treatment, 30 symptomatic women showed significant improvement in quality of life and sexual function, along with reduced lower urinary tract symptoms severity (p<0.001). The ICIQ-FLUTSsex also showed good responsiveness to treatment changes. Conclusion: The Urdu version of ICIQ-FLUTSsex demonstrated strong validity and reliability. It is a suitable tool for assessing sexual issues related to lower urinary tract symptoms in Urdu-speaking women, supporting both clinical practice and research.
DOI: 10.55735/3skte859
Language: English
Subfield: Urology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7155724924