Normative data for commonly used validated pelvic floor disorder questionnaires in women.

OBJECTIVE

: To report measures of central tendency for Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ), and 12-item short form Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Incontinence-Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-12) in women with POPQ stage ≤I.

METHODS

: An analysis was conducted of 67 women participating as controls in a body image in prolapse study who were recruited from a general gynecology setting. Following are the inclusion criteria: (1) presenting complaint was not prolapse/incontinence symptoms; (2) answered "no" to questions, (a) "Do you usually have a sensation of bulging protrusion from the vaginal area?" and (b) "Do you usually have a bulge or something falling out that you can see or feel in the vaginal area?" (3) POPQ stage ≤I; and (4) no prior surgery for prolapse/incontinence. Descriptive statistics were calculated for PISQ-12 and long and short forms of PFDI and PFIQ.

RESULTS

: Subjects had a mean age of 54 ± 8 years and a median of POPQ stage I. Median total and subscale scores for long and short forms of PFDI and PFIQ were ≤15. Mean PISQ-12 was 34 ± 3. Reliability testing using Cronbach's α was performed: PFDI (α = 0.930), PFIQ (α = 0.978), and PISQ-12 (α = 0.469).

CONCLUSIONS

: Knowledge of normative data for pelvic floor symptom questionnaires is important to better assess outcomes after reconstructive surgery for pelvic floor disorders.