PURPOSE: The purposes of the present study were to examine the prevalence of 
stress and urge incontinence in female elite athletes and controls, assess a 
possible association between urge and stress incontinence and eating disorders, 
and assess a possible association between stress and urge incontinence and 
menstrual irregularity.
METHODS: This was a two-stage study including a screening part by questionnaire 
and a clinical interview. Questions included in the questionnaire were related 
to training history, menstrual history, eating behavior, and stress and urge 
incontinence. DSM-IV criteria were used in the clinical part of the study to 
diagnose eating disorders in those classified as being at risk. The total 
population of female elite athletes, defined as one representing the national 
team for junior or senior (N = 660), and age-matched nonathlete controls (N = 
765) aged 15-39 were asked to answer the questionnaire. The response rate was 
87% and 75% for athletes and controls, respectively.
RESULTS: Four percent of the athletes and 33% of the controls had delivered (P < 
0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence of stress urinary 
incontinence (SUI) in the athletes and controls, 41% and 39%, respectively. No 
significant difference was observed between sport groups. No difference in the 
frequency of urge incontinence was found when athletes (16%) and controls (19%) 
were compared. Twenty percent of the elite athletes and 9% of the controls met 
the DSM-IV criteria for eating disorder. The prevalence of SUI (49.5%) and urge 
incontinence (20%) in eating disordered athletes was significantly higher than 
in healthy athletes, 38.8% (P = 0.003) and 15% (P = 0.048). No difference in 
prevalence was observed when eating disordered nonathletes (39%) and healthy 
nonathletes (39%) were compared (P = 0.426).
CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of stress and urge incontinence in female 
elite athletes. The frequency of SUI and urge incontinence was significantly 
higher in eating disordered athletes compared with healthy athletes.