ObjectivesPregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (LPP) is a frequent condition known to significantly affect women in their daily life. The aetiology of pregnancy-related LPP pain is still not clearly established but the mode of conception has been suggested to contribute to LPP. Anxiety related to fertility treatments may be one of the contributing factors. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the evolution of LPP prevalence and severity, and anxiety throughout pregnancy in women who conceived spontaneously (SP) or after fertility treatments (FT). A further aim was to examine the relationship between pregnancy-related LPP severity and anxiety. The secondary objective was to determine the evolution of physical activity and their correlation with the severity of pregnancy-related LPP.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingPregnant women were recruited through physicians’ referrals, posters and newspaper advertisements in the local and surrounding communities (hospital, maternity care clinic, prenatal centres, sports centres, local university) in the city of Trois-Rivières, Canada.Participants59 pregnant women (33 SP and 26 FT) were assessed during the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPregnancy-related LPP prevalence and severity (primary), trait and state anxiety, and physical activity levels (secondary).ResultsThere was no relationship between the mode of conception and the outcome measures. The prevalence and severity of LPP increased over the course of pregnancy (time effect, p<0.0001) whereas trait anxiety decreased from early to mid-pregnancy (time effect, p=0.03). Activity limitations increased throughout pregnancy (time effect, p<0.0001) and physical activity levels decreased (time effect, p<0.0001). The severity of LPP was positively correlated with activity limitations (r=0.51 to 0.55) but negatively with physical activity levels (r=−0.39 to −0.41).ConclusionsMaternal health-related factors, such as LPP, anxiety and physical activity, are not different in women who conceived spontaneously or after fertility treatments. The more LPP was severe, the more the women were physically limited and inactive.

Tool (FertiSTAT) are validated tools allowing the evaluation of fertility knowledge and raising awareness about risk indicators for reduced fertility. Their use by health care professionals practicing in the field of reproductive health might optimize fertility of the Canadian population. However, there currently is no version of these questionnaires for the French-Canadian population. The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the CFKS and FertiSTAT to the French-Canadian population. METHODS: The translation and adaptation of the questionnaires was completed following a 4stage approach: 1) forward translation, 2) synthesis, 3) expert committee review, and 4) testing of the prefinal version of the questionnaires. The testing stage was conducted with a sample of 30 women and 10 men. RESULTS: During the translation process, linguistic difficulties were met for some items of both questionnaires but were resolved by consensus of the expert committee. Thirty women and 10 men tested the prefinal version of the CFKS-F and FertiSTAT-F. On a 5-point Likert scale, the global comprehension was 4.8±0.5 and 4.6±0.6, respectively. Based on the comments of the participants, the expert committee made minor modifications in the final version of the questionnaires to clarify the formulation of questions and adapt to one medical term. CONCLUSION: Tools to assess fertility knowledge and the presence of risk indicators for reduced fertility are now available for health care professionals practicing in the field of reproductive health. (243)

We compared physical activity (PA) levels between pregnant women who conceived naturally (NC) or after fertility treatments (FT) and determined factors predicting prenatal moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA).The study was conducted in Trois-Rivières (Canada) between October 2015 and July 2018. MVPA and anxiety levels were assessed at each trimester of pregnancy (TR1, TR2 and TR3) using an accelerometer and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Sociodemographic and reproductive history data were self-reported or collected from medical files. Repeated measures analysis of variance and regression analyses were conducted.Ninety-six women were included in the analyses (58 NC and 38 FT). MVPA levels and daily step counts decreased significantly throughout pregnancy (time effect: F = 28.68, p < 0.0001 and F = 39.18, p < 0.0001, respectively), but NC and FT women presented similar MVPA and daily step counts (no group effect). The decline in PA practice throughout pregnancy was similar in both groups (no interaction effect). At TR1, State (β = −0.272, p = 0.012) and Trait (β = −0.349, p = 0.001) anxiety and past PA (β = 0.483, p < 0.0001) were correlated with MVPA. Past MVPA was also correlated with MVPA at TR2 (β = 0.595, p < 0.0001) and TR3 (β = 0.654, p < 0.0001). Past PA was the strongest predictors of MVPA levels at TR1, TR2, and TR3, predicting 17% (p = 0.0002), 34% (p < 0.0001) and 42% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Overall, our findings suggest that MVPA practice throughout pregnancy is built on past PA practice. Therefore, to be effective at promoting PA throughout pregnancy, obstetric health care providers and fitness professionals should reinforce the importance of being active as early as possible during pregnancy.