Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum

Abstract Background Monitoring Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) symptoms during pregnancy is crucial to treating and preventing the onset or worsening of dysfunctions in the postpartum period. This study aimed to evaluate PFD symptoms over time in pregnant and postpartum women. Methodology This longit...

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Main Authors: Amanda Cruz de Amorim, Luana Caran Roque, Letícia Miyuki Ito, Pietra Giulia de Oliveira Murer, Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori, GPAP Study Group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07071-0
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author Amanda Cruz de Amorim
Luana Caran Roque
Letícia Miyuki Ito
Pietra Giulia de Oliveira Murer
Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori
GPAP Study Group
author_facet Amanda Cruz de Amorim
Luana Caran Roque
Letícia Miyuki Ito
Pietra Giulia de Oliveira Murer
Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori
GPAP Study Group
author_sort Amanda Cruz de Amorim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Monitoring Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) symptoms during pregnancy is crucial to treating and preventing the onset or worsening of dysfunctions in the postpartum period. This study aimed to evaluate PFD symptoms over time in pregnant and postpartum women. Methodology This longitudinal follow-up study involved pregnant and postpartum women. PFD symptoms were assessed using an obstetric history questionnaire and the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ). Pregnant women were grouped into two periods: up to 28 weeks (Period 1) and from 28 to 40 weeks of gestation (Period 2). Postpartum women were divided into three periods: up to 6 weeks (Period 3), between 7 and 24 weeks (Period 4), and more than 24 weeks postpartum (Period 5). Results A total of 46 and 44 pregnant women and 65, 53, and 39 postpartum women were analyzed in Periods 1 to 5, respectively. For pregnant women, non-parametric ANOVA revealed a significant difference (p = 0.02) in sexual function between Periods 1 (2.1 ± 2.8) and 2 (1.1 ± 1.8). Among postpartum women, urinary function improved significantly across Periods 3 (9.5 ± 5.9), 4 (4.0 ± 5.1), and 5 (5.7 ± 5.3; p < 0.001). Sexual function deteriorated significantly across these periods. Spearman’s correlation indicated moderate associations between urinary function and pregnancy (p < 0.001, r = 0.4) and between prolapse and parity (p = 0.02, r = 0.35) for pregnant women. For postpartum women, moderate correlations were observed between urinary function and parity (p = 0.02, r = 0.3), bowel function and age (p = 0.04, r=-0.29), and sexual function and age (p = 0.049, r=-0.3). Conclusion The study highlights variations in PFD occurrence during pregnancy and the postpartum period, particularly concerning urinary and sexual function.
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spelling doaj-art-d94b3cfe2ffe45528f0d0d903b2705cb2025-08-20T04:02:42ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-07-012511810.1186/s12884-024-07071-0Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartumAmanda Cruz de Amorim0Luana Caran Roque1Letícia Miyuki Ito2Pietra Giulia de Oliveira Murer3Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori4GPAP Study Group5Gynecology Department of Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) from the Federal, University of São Paulo Rua Napoleão de BarrosGynecology Department of Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) from the Federal, University of São Paulo Rua Napoleão de BarrosGynecology Department of Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) from the Federal, University of São Paulo Rua Napoleão de BarrosGynecology Department of Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) from the Federal, University of São Paulo Rua Napoleão de BarrosGynecology Department of Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) from the Federal, University of São Paulo Rua Napoleão de BarrosGynecology Department of Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) from the Federal, University of São Paulo Rua Napoleão de BarrosAbstract Background Monitoring Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) symptoms during pregnancy is crucial to treating and preventing the onset or worsening of dysfunctions in the postpartum period. This study aimed to evaluate PFD symptoms over time in pregnant and postpartum women. Methodology This longitudinal follow-up study involved pregnant and postpartum women. PFD symptoms were assessed using an obstetric history questionnaire and the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ). Pregnant women were grouped into two periods: up to 28 weeks (Period 1) and from 28 to 40 weeks of gestation (Period 2). Postpartum women were divided into three periods: up to 6 weeks (Period 3), between 7 and 24 weeks (Period 4), and more than 24 weeks postpartum (Period 5). Results A total of 46 and 44 pregnant women and 65, 53, and 39 postpartum women were analyzed in Periods 1 to 5, respectively. For pregnant women, non-parametric ANOVA revealed a significant difference (p = 0.02) in sexual function between Periods 1 (2.1 ± 2.8) and 2 (1.1 ± 1.8). Among postpartum women, urinary function improved significantly across Periods 3 (9.5 ± 5.9), 4 (4.0 ± 5.1), and 5 (5.7 ± 5.3; p < 0.001). Sexual function deteriorated significantly across these periods. Spearman’s correlation indicated moderate associations between urinary function and pregnancy (p < 0.001, r = 0.4) and between prolapse and parity (p = 0.02, r = 0.35) for pregnant women. For postpartum women, moderate correlations were observed between urinary function and parity (p = 0.02, r = 0.3), bowel function and age (p = 0.04, r=-0.29), and sexual function and age (p = 0.049, r=-0.3). Conclusion The study highlights variations in PFD occurrence during pregnancy and the postpartum period, particularly concerning urinary and sexual function.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07071-0Pelvic floor dysfunctionUrinary incontinenceAnal incontinenceSexual dysfunctionsPelvic organ prolapsePregnancy
spellingShingle Amanda Cruz de Amorim
Luana Caran Roque
Letícia Miyuki Ito
Pietra Giulia de Oliveira Murer
Marair Gracio Ferreira Sartori
GPAP Study Group
Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pelvic floor dysfunction
Urinary incontinence
Anal incontinence
Sexual dysfunctions
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pregnancy
title Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
title_full Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
title_fullStr Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
title_full_unstemmed Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
title_short Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
title_sort symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunctions during pregnancy and postpartum
topic Pelvic floor dysfunction
Urinary incontinence
Anal incontinence
Sexual dysfunctions
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pregnancy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-07071-0
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