Postpartum sexual function of women and the effects of early pelvic floor muscle exercises

Citak, Nevin; Çam, Çetin; Özkan, Hediye Arslan; Karateke, Ateş; Tuğ, Niyazi; Ayaz, Reyhan; Çelik, Cem

doi:10.3109/00016341003801623

Cited by 76 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…It remains unclear whether dyspareunia causes muscle changes or whether VRP, PFM strength and endurance may cause dyspareunia. To date, only 1 RCT has investigated effect of PFM training on symptoms of dyspareunia [28]. This study found no statistically significant difference between the group exercising their PFM and the control group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 41%

Dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle function before and during pregnancy and after childbirth

et al. 2014

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This file was dowloaded from the institutional repository Brage NIH -brage.bibsys.no/nih Tennfjord, M. K., Hilde, G., Staer-Jensen, J., Ellstrøm Engh, M., Bø, K. (2014).Dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle function before and during pregnancy and during pregnancy and after childbirth. ABSTRACT Introduction and hypothesis:There is limited knowledge on dyspareunia during pregnancy and postpartum and the role of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in women with dyspareunia. Aims of the study were to investigate presence of dyspareunia before, during pregnancy and postpartum and to compare vaginal resting pressure (VRP), PFM strength and endurance between women with and without dyspareunia. It was hypothesized that there is no difference in PFM variables between women with and without dyspareunia. Methods: Three hundred nulliparous women participated in this prospective cohort and answered questions about dyspareunia and level of bother at gestational weeks 22 and 37, 6 and 12 months postpartum and retrospectively prior to their pregnancies using ICIQFLUTSsex. PFM variables were assessed by manometer at gestational week 22, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Comparisons between groups were analyzed using independent-samples t test.Results: Twenty-eight and 30% of the women reported dyspareunia at pre-pregnancy and at gestational week 22, respectively. At gestational week 37, 6 and 12 months postpartum, the number was 40%, 45% and 33%, respectively. No difference in PFM variables were found between women with or without dyspareunia. Level of bother was higher postpartum than before and during pregnancy. Conclusion: Symptoms of dyspareunia were common at all time points. No link could be made between PFM function and dyspareunia. Women suffering from dyspareunia postpartum reported it as bothersome. Our findings suggest that women should be asked about symptoms of dyspareunia related to pregnancy, and that future research should aim for preventative and treatment strategies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 41%

Dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle function before and during pregnancy and after childbirth

et al. 2014

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“…Other authors observed that PFM function improvement using perineal exercise postpartum (21) or surgical procedure performed to pelvic floor dysfunctions can improve the sexual function (22). In our series, there was no statistical correlation between PFM strength and orgasm.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 47%

Pelvic floor muscle strength evaluation in different body positions in nulliparous healthy women and its correlation with sexual activity

et al. 2013

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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in different body positions in nulliparous healthy women and its correlation with sexual activity. Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy nulliparous women with mean age of 23 years were prospectively studied. Subjective evaluation of PFM was assessed by transvaginal digital palpation (TDP) of anterior and posterior areas regarding the vaginal introitus. A perineometer with inflatable vaginal probe was used to assess the PFM strength in four different positions: supine with extended lower limbs (P1); bent-knee supine (P2); sitting (P3); standing (P4). Results: Physical activity, 3 times per week, was reported by 58% of volunteers. Sexual activity was observed in 80% of women and 82% of them presented orgasm. The average body mass index (BMI) was 21.76 kg/m 2 , considered as normal according World Health Organization (WHO). We observed that 68% of volunteers were conscious about the PFM contraction. TDP showed concordance of 76% when anterior and posterior areas were compared (p = 0.00014). There was not correlation between PFM strength and orgasm in subjective evaluation. The PFM strength was significantly higher in standing position when compared with the other positions (p < 0.000). No statistical difference was observed between orgasm and PFM strength when objective evaluations were performed. Conclusions: There was concordance between anterior and posterior areas in 76% of cases when subjective PFM strength was assessed. In objective evaluation, higher PFM strength was observed when volunteers were standing. No statistical correlation was observed between PFM strength and orgasm in nulliparous healthy women.

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“…However, sexual function was the primary outcome measure in only 1 study done by Citak et al (21), which showed a significant improvement in total FSFI and orgasm domain scores at 7 months postpartum after receiving 3 months of PFM training. In the Citak study, scores of arousal, lubrication, and pain domains were higher in the intervention group than in the control group, however, the differences were not statistically significant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Female Sexual Function During Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Pourkhiz¹,

Mohammad‐Alizadeh‐Charandabi²,

Mirghafourvand³

et al. 2017

Iran Red Crescent Med J

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Postpartum sexual function of women and the effects of early pelvic floor muscle exercises

Abstract: Pelvic floor-muscle training improves pelvic floor-muscle function, and starting after the puerperal period, exercise appears to have positive effects on female sexual function.

Cited by 76 publications

References 19 publications

Dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle function before and during pregnancy and after childbirth

Dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle function before and during pregnancy and after childbirth

Pelvic floor muscle strength evaluation in different body positions in nulliparous healthy women and its correlation with sexual activity

Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Female Sexual Function During Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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