Reed H, Freeman R M, Waterfield A, Adekanmi O
Urogynaecology Unit, Directorate of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
BJOG. 2004 Feb;111(2):172-5. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-0528.2003.00043.x-i1.
Antenatal bladder neck mobility is known to be associated with postpartum stress incontinence. Whether this represents a normal feature of pregnancy or a pathological process is unclear. Forty-eight nulliparous volunteers had perineal ultrasound scans to assess bladder neck mobility. Using previously defined cutoffs (for incontinence), 50% had increased linear movement and 39% increased angle of rotation. This suggests that bladder neck mobility is common in asymptomatic nulliparous women. Furthermore, it could represent a risk factor for stress incontinence after pregnancy and in the longer term.
