Pelvic floor muscle training improves sexual function of women with stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a program of supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on sexual function, in a group of women with urodynamically diagnosed stress urinary incontinence (SUI), using a validated questionnaire. Incontinence episodes frequency and continence pads used per week were measured before and after treatment using a 7-day bladder diary. Improvements in sexual function were assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Seventy women completed the 12-month program of supervised PFMT successfully. At the end of the study, incontinence episode frequency decreased by 38.1%, and patients required 39% less pads per week. All domains of the FSFI were also significantly improved with median total FSFI scores increasing from 20.3 to 26.8. This is one of the few studies to quantify, using a validated questionnaire, the improvement in sexual function of women with SUI, undergoing successfully a 12-month supervised PFMT program.

Investigating the Effects of Lifestyle Changes on Sexual Function of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis Procedures

“…Moreover, regular exercise increases cardiovascular and muscular endurance, which in turn strengthens marriage relationship and makes the person less likely to suffer from fatigue. The study results of Zahariou et al are consistent with the present study (21).…”

Força dos músculos do assoalho pélvico e função sexual em gestantes

“…Meanwhile, Baytur et al 9 did not find a correlation between PFM strength (using the perineometer) and sexual function (through the FSFI questionnaire) postpartum. However, a PFM training program with nonpregnant women found that those with weak PFMs and who received training had positive results in sexual function, also verified through the FSFI 35 . This demonstrates that stronger muscles are linked to better sexual function.…”

Postpartum pelvic floor function performance after two different modes of delivery

“…Among these factors, pregnancy and childbirth are most closely related to female pelvic floor dysfunction. In the process of pregnancy and childbirth, chronic fetal oppression of the pelvic floor musculature and innervation of the supporting tissue of the pelvic cavity can injure the pelvic floor muscles and cause urethral sphincter denervation damage; the fetus passing through the soft birth canal can also directly damage the pelvic floor, anal sphincter, and perineum (Payne, 2008;Zahariou et al, 2008;Shek et al, 2012).…”