Dietz Hans Peter, Steensma Anneke B
Royal Hospital for Women, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2003 Nov 10;111(1):15-8. doi: 10.1016/s0301-2115(03)00155-6.
Vaginal childbirth is a risk factor for female pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence. Imaging studies have suggested that vaginal delivery leads to increased anterior vaginal wall mobility. The authors intended to define the relationship between antepartum pelvic organ mobility and delivery-related changes in these parameters.
Prospective observational clinical study conducted on 200 nulliparous women recruited from antenatal clinic. Patients were assessed by translabial ultrasound in late pregnancy and 2-5 months postpartum.
Vaginal childbirth resulted in highly significant changes to all parameters used to describe pelvic organ mobility. These alterations were more marked in those women with limited pelvic organ mobility prior to childbirth, and these negative correlations were highly significant (anterior compartment r=-0.519, P<0.0001, central compartment r=-0.539, P<0.0001, posterior compartment r=-0.604, P<0.0001).
Women with little pelvic organ mobility before childbirth appear to be those that show most marked delivery-related changes.
