Pelvic floor muscle strength is correlated with sexual function

Sartori, Dulcegleika Villas Boas; Kawano, Paulo Roberto; Yamamoto, Hamilto Akihissa; Guerra, Rodrigo; Pajolli, Pedro Rochetti; Amaro, João Luiz

doi:10.4111/icu.20190248

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The vast majority of the nulliparae in our study were in their first trimester at the age of 30.18 years with a median MOS of 4 (2)(3)(4). It is generally anticipated that young women in an early stage of pregnancy have not experienced delivery and should have normal PFMS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy

et al. 2023

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BackgroundPelvic floor muscle strength is well-known to be associated with female sexual function. However, there were a few studies that reported on the relationship between pelvic floor muscle strength and female sexual function in pregnant women, and the presented results were inconsistent. Nulliparae represent a specific cohort with simplicity to exclude confounding factors that are caused by parity. The present study aimed to explore the association of pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) of nulliparae during pregnancy.MethodsThis is the second analysis of the baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aimed to study the protective efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training on stress urinary incontinence at 6th week postpartum (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618). Nulliparae aged 20–40 years with singleton pregnancy before 16 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study, and data, including participants' demographic information, the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS), and PISQ-12, were collected. Eligible nulliparae were divided into two groups: Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3. Demographic information of the two groups was compared. Sexual function based on the PISQ-12 scores of the two groups was compared. A comparison of the PISQ-12 scores between the two groups was calculated by the Mann–Whitney U-test using SPSS version 23.0.ResultsA total of 735 eligible nulliparae were enrolled in this study. Along with MOS grading up, PISQ-12 scores tended to get lower. Of the 735 nulliparae, there were 378 and 357 participants included in Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3, respectively. The PISQ-12 scores of Group MOS > 3 were significantly lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (11 vs. 12, p < 0.001). The scores of the frequency of feeling sexual desire, orgasm achievement, sexual excitement, sexual activity satisfaction, sexual intercourse pain, fear of urinary incontinence, and negative emotion reactions with the sexual intercourse of Group MOS > 3 were lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (p < 0.05).ConclusionPelvic floor muscle strength was positively associated with sexual function based on the questionnaire of young nulliparae during their first trimester. Up to half of the nulliparae during the first trimester were suffering from weak pelvic floor muscle strength and nearly a quarter of the nulliparae were facing this weakness combined with sexual dysfunction.Trial registrationThis study has been registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy

et al. 2023

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“…Some sociodemographic characteristics may have an effect on PFM strength. Some studies have reported that aging may lead to a decrease in mechanical strength and predispose an individual to prolapse, UI and sexual dysfunction [ 29 – 32 ]. Likewise, in our study, the PFM rapid, tonic, and endurance contraction amplitudes all decreased when age increased.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors of pelvic floor muscle strength in south Chinese women: a retrospective study

Fang

Huang³

et al. 2022

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Objectives To evaluate pelvic floor muscle strength using surface electromyography and risk factors for pelvic floor muscle strength in the early postpartum period. Methods This retrospective study included 21,302 participants who visited Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital from September 2019 to February 2022. All participants were assessed by medical professionals for general information and surface electromyography. Results Univariate analysis indicated that age was inversely related to tonic and endurance contractions. In contrast, all the other variables, including education level, body mass index, neonatal weight, and number of fetuses, had a positive impact on rapid, tonic, and endurance contractions. Likewise, parity was also positively associated with rapid contractions. In addition, compared with vaginal delivery, cesarean section delivery had a protective effect on the amplitude of the three types of contractions. Stepwise regression analysis showed that both age and neonatal weight had a negative linear relationship with the amplitude of rapid, tonic and endurance contractions. In contrast, the amplitude of rapid, tonic and endurance contractions significantly increased as body mass index, parity (≤ 3), education level and gestational weight gain (endurance contractions only) increased. Participants with cesarean section delivery showed positive effects on rapid, tonic, and endurance contractions compared to participants with vaginal delivery. Conclusions We found that age, neonatal weight, vaginal delivery, episiotomy, and forceps delivery were risk factors for pelvic floor muscle strength; in contrast, body mass index, parity (≤ 3) and gestational weight gain had a positive relationship with pelvic floor muscle strength.

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“…Weakened PFM is closely related to SUI, fecal incontinence, POP, and sexual dysfunction [ 5 , 21 ]. Additionally, women’s quality of life and ability to engage in everyday activities may be negatively affected by PFM strength [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Martinez et al [ 22 ] recruited 49 women to be interviewed for the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI) and graded for PFM strength, and concluded that women with stronger PFM were scored higher in the orgasm, sexual excitement, desire, and general questions on the questionnaire. Likewise, Sartori et al [ 21 ] recruited 140 healthy females to evaluate the frequency of orgasm achievable sexual activities to objectively evaluate PFM strength, and found that better PFM was correlated with better sexual function, suggesting that strengthening PFM is hopefully resulting in improving women’s quality of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in the First Trimester of Primipara: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gao

Wang

Zhang

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) weakness is associated with stress urinary incontinence. Pregnancy is an important risk factor for PFM weakness. Studies evaluating PFM strength in the first trimester of pregnancy are still lacking. Our study aimed to describe pelvic floor function of the primipara in the first trimester of gestation and investigate the risk factors for PFM weakness. Methods: Primiparas aged 20~40 years with a singleton pregnancy less than 14 weeks of gestation were recruited, and data were collected via questionnaires on items that were suggested as associated with PFM weakness, followed by Modified Oxford Scale (MOS) on genital hiatus and perineal body and pelvic floor ultrasound evaluation for the thickness of the left and right levator ani muscles (LAM), right–left diameter of the levator hiatus (LH), and LH area. Participants were divided into three groups by MOS >3, =3, and <3 for data analysis. Results: A total of 380 participants completed the questionnaires and examinational analysis, of whom, 228, 98, and 54 were divided into Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively. The three groups were significantly different in the number of gestations and abortions, toilet types, and the right–left diameter of the LH (p < 0.05). Logistic regressive analysis showed that squatting toilet dominant (OR = 3.025; 95% CI: 1.623~5.638; p < 0.001) and a larger right–left diameter of the LH (OR = 1.065; 95% CI: 1.026~1.105; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with PFM weakness. Conclusions: Squatting toilet dominancy and longer right–left diameter of the LH are significantly associated with PFM weakness in primiparas in the first trimester. Sitting toilets should be recommended to women, especially pregnant women. Trial registration: The trial has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618).

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Pelvic floor muscle strength is correlated with sexual function

Cited by 18 publications

References 23 publications

Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy

Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy

Risk factors of pelvic floor muscle strength in south Chinese women: a retrospective study

Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in the First Trimester of Primipara: A Cross-Sectional Study

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