Prevalence and Severity of Pelvic Floor Disorders during Pregnancy: Does the Trimester Make a Difference?

(1)

Background

Women experience pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms during pregnancy. This study is the first to investigate and compare variances in the prevalence and severity of pelvic floor symptoms between trimesters using a valid pregnancy-targeted questionnaire. (2)

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted between August 2020 to January 2021 at two university-affiliated tertiary medical centers. Pregnant women (n = 306) anonymously completed the Pelvic Floor Questionnaire for Pregnancy and Postpartum with its four domains (bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual). (3)

Results

Thirty-six women (11.7%) were in the 1st trimester, eighty-three (27.1%) were in the 2nd trimester, and one hundred and eighty-seven (61.1%) were in the 3rd trimester. The groups were similar in age, pregestational weight, and smoking habits. A total of 104 (34%) had bladder dysfunction, 112 (36.3%) had bowel dysfunction, and 132 (40.4%) reported sexual inactivity and/or sexual dysfunction. Least prevalent (33/306; 10.8%) were prolapse symptoms. Increased awareness of prolapse and significantly higher rates of nocturia and the need to use pads due to incontinence were recorded in the 3rd trimester. Sexual dysfunction or abstinence were equally distributed in all three trimesters. (4)

Conclusions

Bladder and prolapse symptoms, equally frequent throughout pregnancy, significantly intensified in the 3rd trimester. Bowel and sexual symptoms, equally frequent throughout pregnancy, did not intensify in the third trimester.