Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms and risk factors at the first year of postpartum women: a cross-sectional study.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) symptoms experienced the first year of postpartum and obstetric risk factors.

Methods

This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study was conducted with 408 women between 3 and 12 months postpartum, in İzmir.

Results

It was found that urinary incontinence had been experienced by 33.3% of the women during pregnancy and 25.2% postpartum and 2.9% had experienced fecal incontinence. Other frequently experienced symptoms of PFD were in the order of frequency, perineal pain (53.4%), constipation (40.7%), flatulence (34.1%), dyspareunia (27.7%) and fecal incontinence (2.9%).

Conclusion

PFD symptoms are common in postpartum women. Early diagnosis, treatment and preventive approaches should be made by healthcare professionals for perinatal pelvic floor health. Impact statement: Healthcare professionals should acknowledge the importance of PFD after birth and identify the problems early period. Our study emphasizes the size of the problem and improvement for PFD.