Pelvic floor dysfunction before and after childbirth and preventive strategies in obstetric practice

Objective. To determine the rate of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in women during pregnancy and in postpartum and late periods. Material and methods. The data of 50 foreign and Russian sources found in international databases on this topic were analyzed. Results. PFD (urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse) occurred in 40% of women already during pregnancy and lasted in the majority of them 6–8 weeks postpartum. After one year, the rate of PFD increased by 7–10% and following 10 years, it rose by 25%, amounting 50–77%. The rate of sexual dysfunction was correlated with the manifestations of PFD, increasing from 20% postpartum and up to 50–80% in the late periods. On the contrary, the rate of fecal incontinence decreased, but not in women who had experienced third-to-fourth degree perineal ruptures. Conclusion. The findings suggest that there is a need to screen women who require therapeutic measures, starting just in the postpartum period. © 2017, Bionika Media Ltd. All rights reserved.