Open AccessPelvic Floor Sensations After the First Vaginal Delivery: A Qualitative Study
Author(s) -
Marlene J. Egger,
Ana Sanchez-Birkhead,
Lauren Clark,
R. Curiel,
Gabriela García,
Cèsar Fernández,
Ingrid Nygaard
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.648
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2154-4212
pISSN - 2151-8378
DOI - 10.1097/spv.0000000000000742
Subject(s) - medicine , pelvic floor , sexual function , vaginal delivery , sex organ , gynecology , pregnancy , obstetrics , surgery , genetics , biology
Current validated instruments to screen for pelvic organ prolapse and its sequelae address bulge symptoms, bowel and bladder changes, and sexual intimacy. However, sensitivity is lower in younger women, and there is no instrument specifically designed to screen in postpartum, primiparous women for early changes, that is, changes that may be noticed before the symptom of a bulge or signs of pelvic organ prolapse occur. Our goal was to elucidate early sensations of pelvic floor support changes in primiparous women after their first vaginal delivery. These could be the focus of future studies differentiating such sensations from a normal postpartum, aiding identification of women for further follow-up.