Introduction. Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common, chronic disease among women in the perimenopausal period. This disorder occurs widely, affecting many women, mainly in the perimenopausal age, and increases with age. It results in the withdrawal from professional and social life, as well as intimate contacts. UI is a serious health, social, existential and economic problem. It significantly affects all spheres of life and reduces its quality. Aim. Assessment of the incidence of various types of NTM and determination of their impact on the functioning in everyday life of perimenopausal nurses from the Silesian Voivodship. Material and methods. Two hundred fifty-three professionally active nurses (aged 45–60) were surveyed using quality of life questionnaires for women with NTM. Frequency, duration, NTM (UDI-6) and the impact of NTM on nurses’ life components (IIQ-7) were assessed. Results. UI episodes occurred among more than 51% surveyed nurses. It was observed in the early years of the menopause (61%). It was characterized by a moderate intensity of symptoms (38.3 ± 22.8). The most common form was stress UI (57%). Women with mixed UI (43,9%) reported that the impact of urinary incontinence is the highest once related to the quality of life. Conclusions. Over half of nurses in the perimenopausal age reported urinary incontinence occurrence. The stress type was the most common, and the mixed type was the most disruptive and disturbing form of UI. Nurses with urinary incontinence were characterized by deterioration in the quality of life in the somatic sphere and social contacts.

Key words: urinary incontinence, nurses, perimenopausal period.