Comparison of pelvic floor muscle strength evaluations in nulliparous and primiparous women: a prospective study

This study aimed to compare the pelvic floor muscle strength of nulliparous and primiparous women. A total of 100 women were prospectively distributed into two groups: Group 1 (G1) (n = 50) included healthy nulliparous women, and Group 2 (G2) (n = 50) included healthy primiparous women. Pelvic floor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Vol. 66; no. 8; pp. 1389 - 1393
Main Authors:	Gameiro, Mônica Orsi, Sousa, Vanessa Oliveira, Gameiro, Luiz Felipe, Muchailh, Rosana Carneiro, Padovani, Carlos Roberto, Amaro, João Luiz
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Brazil Elsevier España, S.L.U 01-01-2011 Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina / USP Elsevier España
Subjects:	Adult Clinical Science Female Humans MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL Muscle Strength - physiology Musculature Strength Nulliparous Palpation Parity - physiology Pelvic Floor - physiology Pelvic Floor Muscle Pregnancy Primiparous Prospective Studies Time Factors Nulliparous Primiparous Musculature Strength Pelvic Floor Muscle
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Summary:	This study aimed to compare the pelvic floor muscle strength of nulliparous and primiparous women. A total of 100 women were prospectively distributed into two groups: Group 1 (G1) (n = 50) included healthy nulliparous women, and Group 2 (G2) (n = 50) included healthy primiparous women. Pelvic floor muscle strength was subjectively evaluated using transvaginal digital palpation. Pelvic floor muscle strength was objectively assessed using a portable perineometer. All of the parameters were evaluated simultaneously in G1 and were evaluated in G2 during the 20th and 36th weeks of pregnancy and 45 days after delivery. In G2, 14 women were excluded because they left the study before the follow-up evaluation. The median age was 23 years in G1 and 22 years in G2; there was no significant difference between the groups. The average body mass index was 21.7 kg/m2 in G1 and 25.0 kg/m2 in G2; there was a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0004). In G2, transvaginal digital palpation evaluation showed significant impairments of pelvic floor muscle strength at the 36th week of pregnancy (p = 0.0006) and 45 days after vaginal delivery (p = 0.0001) compared to G1. Objective evaluations of pelvic floor muscle strength in G2 revealed a significant decrease 45 days after vaginal delivery compared to nulliparous patients. Pregnancy and vaginal delivery may cause weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	1807-5932 1980-5322 1980-5322
DOI:	10.1590/S1807-59322011000800014