1. Risk Factors for Pelvic Floor Defects: Pelvic floor defects are common and are seen in 50% of parous women, especially over the age of 50 [1-2]. Risk factors include: pregnancy, childbirth, hysterectomy, congenital or acquired connective tissue abnormalities, white race, denervation or weakness of the pelvic floor, advancing age, estrogen deficiency, obesity, smoking and other factors associ...

BACKGROUND Pregnancy and childbirth are important risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) in women. Pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) are effective for prevention of UI. Guidelines for the management of UI recommend offering pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) to women during their first pregnancy as a preventive strategy. The objective of this review is to understand the relationships be...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in women with pelvic floor disorders and to evaluate possible associations between vitamin D levels and pelvic floor disorders. METHODS Using 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of nonpregnant women older than 20 years of age with data on both pelvic floor disorder...

BACKGROUND To compare the postpartum pelvic floor function of women with sutured second-degree perineal lacerations, unsutured second-degree perineal lacerations, and intact perineums. METHODS A prospective cohort of nurse-midwifery patients consented to mapping of genital trauma at birth and an assessment of postpartum pelvic floor outcomes. Women completed validated questionnaires for perin...

[Purpose] Proper pelvic floor function is important to avoid serious dysfunctions including incontinence, prolapse, and sexual problems. The current study evaluated the knowledge of young nulliparous women about their pelvic floor and identified what additional information they wanted. [Subjects and Methods] In this cross-sectional survey, a validated, 36 item questionnaire was distributed to 2...

QUESTION Do different sitting postures require different levels of pelvic floor and abdominal muscle activity in healthy women? DESIGN Observational study. PARTICIPANTS Eight parous women with no pelvic floor dysfunction. OUTCOME MEASURES Bilateral activity of pelvic floor muscles (assessed vaginally) and two abdominal muscles, obliquus internus abdominis and obliquus externus abdominis, ...

Background: The use of the pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence treatment is well established but little is known about its effects in labor and newborn outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of antenatal pelvic floor muscle training and strength in labor and newborn outcomes in low-income pregnant women. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial that recruited fort...

Our understanding of the male pelvic floor has evolved over more than 2,000 years. Gradually medical science has sought to dispel ancient myths and untruths. The male pelvic floor has many diverse functions. Importantly, it helps to support the abdominal contents, maintains urinary and fecal continence, and plays a major role in gaining and maintaining penile erection. Weakness of the male pelv...

Ultrasound imaging is rapidly replacing radiological methods in the investigation of pelvic floor disorders. Transrectal, transvaginal/introital and transperineal/translabial methods are being employed, with the latter probably the most widespread due to ease of use and availability of equipment. Position and mobility of the bladder neck, bladder wall thickness, pelvic floor muscle activity and...