OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of the symptom of urinary incontinence 
during athletic endeavors among a group of nulliparous, elite college varsity 
female athletes.
METHODS: All women currently participating in varsity athletics at a large state 
university were asked to fill out a questionnaire about the occurrence of 
urinary incontinence while participating in their sport and during activities of 
daily life. One hundred forty-four of 156 eligible women (92%) responded.
RESULTS: The mean age was 19.9 years, and all women were nulliparous. Overall, 
40 athletes (28%) reported urine loss while participating in their sport. The 
proportions in different sports were: gymnastics 67%, basketball 66%, tennis 
50%, field hockey 42%, track 29%, swimming 10%, volleyball 9%, softball 6%, and 
golf 0%. Two-thirds of the women who noted urine loss during athletics were 
incontinent more often than rarely. There were no statistically significant 
relations between incontinence and amenorrhea, weight, hormonal therapy, or 
duration of athletic activity. Activities most likely to provoke incontinence 
included jumping, high-impact landings, and running. Forty percent and 17% of 
the women first noted incontinence during their sport while in high school and 
junior high school, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Incontinence during physical stresses is common in young, highly 
fit, nulliparous women. This suggests that there is a continence threshold 
which, when exceeded, can result in urine loss, even in the absence of known 
risk factors for incontinence.