Overactive Bladder in Late Pregnancy to 1 Year After First Vaginal Delivery

IMPORTANCE

Understanding overactive bladder (OAB) during pregnancy and postpartum may increase our knowledge of pathophysiology.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to understand the prevalence and severity of OAB during pregnancy through 1 year postpartum as well as the associated factors.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study evaluating primiparous women with a singleton term vaginal delivery assessed at the third trimester, 8 weeks postpartum, and 1 year postpartum. Overactive bladder was defined as urinary urgency plus nocturia or frequency, or urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). Overactive bladder severity was defined using average visual analog scores (0-100) from OAB symptoms on the Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire. We evaluated associations with OAB at each time point using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 579 participants, mean age was 29 years. Overactive bladder prevalence was higher at 8 weeks postpartum (23%) than at the third trimester (18%, P = 0.03) and 1 year postpartum (19%, P = 0.03). Overactive bladder severity was higher at the third trimester (42.2) than at 8 weeks postpartum (23.3, P = 0.008), but not at 1 year postpartum (29.1, P = 0.1). In those with OAB, UUI severity was higher at 1 year postpartum compared with that at the third trimester ( P = 0.02). Younger age was associated with third trimester OAB. At 8 weeks postpartum, OAB was associated with older age, urinary tract infection after delivery, birth weight ≥3,500 g, and third trimester OAB. At 1 year postpartum, OAB was associated with birth weight ≥3,500 g and third trimester OAB.

CONCLUSIONS

Overactive bladder affects 1 in 5 primiparous women during pregnancy or after vaginal delivery. The increased severity of UUI postpartum and the association between higher birth weight and OAB postpartum suggest an effect of delivery.

Habitus and Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support 1 Year Postpartum

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the association between habitus measures and pelvic floor support and symptoms in primiparous women 1 year after term vaginal delivery.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study including women enrolled at seven academic and community sites, we assessed pelvic floor support, weight, height, waist circumference, and percent fat using air displacement plethysmography and participants completed questionnaires, all at one year postpartum. We tested the association of quintiles of habitus measure, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, percent body fat, and waist/height ratio, with the primary outcomes: anatomic support, dichotomized as maximal vaginal descent less than 0 cm (better support) compared with 0 cm or more (worse support) per the pelvic organ prolapse quantification examination and symptom burden (positive with bothersome symptoms in two or more of six symptom domains), and on five secondary outcomes. The sample size provides 90% power to detect odds ratios (ORs) of 1.78 or greater between women at mean compared with mean+1 SD of habitus measure.

RESULTS

Of 592 participants, 55 (9.3%) demonstrated worse support and 321 (54.2%) symptom burden. In multivariable analyses, habitus measures were not significantly associated with anatomic support or, except for the highest waist/height ratio quintile, with symptom burden. Compared with women in the first quintile of each habitus measure, those in most higher quintiles demonstrated elevated odds of moderate to severe urinary incontinence (UI); increased odds for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were mainly limited to the highest quintile. After adjusting for percent body fat, the increased odds for BMI on SUI (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.43-4.28) were no longer significant (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.54, 3.51).

CONCLUSION

Habitus in primiparous patients at 1 year postpartum was not associated with anatomic support or symptom burden. Habitus was more associated with moderate to severe UI than mild UI. The association of higher BMI with SUI was attenuated by fitness, reflected by fat percentage.

Trajectories of Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Support After Vaginal Delivery in Primiparous Women Between Third Trimester and 1 Year Postpartum

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to describe trajectories of pelvic floor symptoms and support from the third trimester to 1 year postpartum in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and to explore factors associated with their resolution between 8 weeks postpartum and 1 year postpartum.

METHODS

Five hundred ninety-seven nulliparous women 18 years or older who gave birth vaginally at term completed the Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification examination at the third trimester, 8 weeks postpartum, and 1 year postpartum.

RESULTS

At 1 year postpartum, 41%, 32%, and 23% of participants reported stress urinary incontinence, nocturia, and flatus incontinence, respectively, and 9% demonstrated maximal vaginal descent (MVD) ≥ 0 cm. For more common symptoms, incidence rates between the third trimester and 8 weeks postpartum ranged from 6% for urinary frequency to 22% for difficult bowel movements, and resolution rates between 8 weeks postpartum and 1 year postpartum ranged from 23% for stress urinary incontinence to 73% for pain. Between the third trimester and 8 weeks postpartum, 13% demonstrated de novo MVD ≥ 0 cm. For most symptoms, the presence of the same symptom before delivery decreased the probability of resolution between 8 weeks postpartum and 1 year. However, the sensitivities of predelivery vaginal bulge and MVD of 0 cm or greater for those outcomes at 1 year postpartum was overall low (10-12%).

CONCLUSIONS

One year postpartum, urinary and bowel symptoms are common in primiparous women who gave birth vaginally. A substantial portion of this burden is represented by symptoms present before delivery, while most of the prevalence of worse anatomic support is accounted for by de novo changes after delivery.

The effect of women's body mass index on pelvic organ prolapse: a systematic review and meta analysis

BACKGROUND

Pelvic organ prolapse remains the public health challenge globally. Existing evidences report the effect of woman's weight on the pelvic organ prolapse inconsistently and this urges the need of pooled body weight effect on the pelvic organ prolapse. Although there was a previous work on this regard, it included papers reported before June 18/2015. Thus, updated and comprehensive evidence in this aspect is essential to devise strategies for interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed at synthesizing evidence regarding the pooled effect of body weight on the pelvic organ prolapsed.

METHODS

For this review, we searched all available articles through databases including PubMed, Web of Sciences, CINAHL, JBI library, Cochran library, PsycInfo and EMBASE as well as grey literature including Mednar, worldwide science, PschEXTRA and Google scholar. We included cohort, case-control, cross-sectional and experimental studies which had been reported between March 30, 2005 to March 30, 2020. In the effect analysis, we utilized random model. The heterogeneity of the studies was determined by I2 statistic and the publication bias was checked by Egger's regression test. Searching was limited to studies reported in the English language.

RESULTS

A total of 14 articles with 53,797 study participants were included in this systematic review (SR) and meta analysis (MA). The pooled result of this Meta analyses depict that body mass index (BMI) doesn't have statistical significant association with pelvic organ prolapse.

CONCLUSION

This review point out that women's body mass index has no significant effect on the development of pelvic organ prolapse. However, the readers should interpret the result with cautions due to the presence of considerable limitations in this work. Trial registration The protocol of this systematic review (SR) and meta analysis (MA) has been registered in PROSPERO databases with the Registration number of CRD42020186951.

Early postpartum physical activity and pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year postpartum

BACKGROUND

Risks of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence increase after the first vaginal delivery. During the early postpartum period, a time of active regeneration and healing of the pelvic floor, women may be particularly vulnerable to greater pelvic floor loading.

OBJECTIVE

This prospective cohort study aimed to determine whether objectively measured moderate to vigorous physical activity in the early postpartum period predicts pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year after the first vaginal birth.

STUDY DESIGN

We enrolled nulliparous women in the third trimester, later excluding those who had a cesarean or preterm delivery. Participants wore triaxial wrist accelerometers at 2 to 3 weeks and 5 to 6 weeks postpartum for ≥4 days. Primary outcomes, assessed 1 year postpartum, included (1) pelvic floor support on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification examination, dichotomized as maximal vaginal descent of <0 cm (better support) vs ≥0 cm (worse support); and (2) pelvic floor symptom burden, considered positive with report of ≥1 bothersome symptom in ≥2 of 6 domains, assessed using the Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire. The primary predictor was average daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. Because we could not eliminate women with pelvic floor changes before pregnancy, we modeled prevalence, rather than risk, ratios for each outcome using modified Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Of 825 participants eligible after delivery, 611 completed accelerometry and 1-year follow-up; 562 completed in-person visits, and 609 completed questionnaires. The mean age was 28.9 years (standard deviation, 5.01). The mean for moderate to vigorous physical activity measured in minutes per day was 57.3 (standard deviation, 25.4) and 68.1 (standard deviation, 28.9) at 2 to 3 weeks and 5 to 6 weeks, respectively. One year postpartum, 53 of 562 participants (9.4%) demonstrated worse vaginal support and 330 of 609 participants (54.2%) met criteria for pelvic floor symptom burden. In addition, 324 (53.1%), 284 (46.6%), 144 (23.6%), and 25 (4.1%) reported secondary outcomes of stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, anal incontinence, and constipation, respectively, and 264 (43.4%), 250 (41.0%), and 89 (14.6%) reported no, mild, or moderate to severe urinary incontinence, respectively. The relationship between moderate to vigorous physical activity and outcomes was not linear. On the basis of plots, we grouped quintiles of moderate to vigorous physical activity into 3 categories: first and second quintiles combined, third and fourth quintiles combined, and fifth quintile. In final multivariable models, compared with women in moderate to vigorous physical activity quintiles 3 and 4, those in the lower 2 (prevalence ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.31-1.00) and upper quintile (prevalence ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-1.38)) trended toward lower prevalence of worse support. However, we observed the reverse for symptom burden: compared with women in quintiles 3 and 4, those in the lower 2 (prevalence ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.41) and upper quintile prevalence ratio 1.34 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.61) demonstrated higher prevalence of symptom burden. Moderate to vigorous physical activity did not predict any of the secondary outcomes. The presence of a delivery factor with potential to increase risk for levator ani muscle injury did not modify the effect of moderate to vigorous physical activity on outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Except for support, which was worse in women with moderately high levels of activity, early postpartum moderate to vigorous physical activity was either protective or had no effect on other parameters of pelvic floor health. Few women performed substantial vigorous activity, and thus, these results do not apply to women performing strenuous exercise shortly after delivery.

Association Between Measures of Trunk Recovery 5 to 10 Weeks Postpartum and Pelvic Floor Support and Symptoms 1 Year Postpartum in Primiparas Delivered Vaginally

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether 2 aspects of trunk recovery after childbirth, intraabdominal pressure (IAP) generation and trunk flexor endurance (TFE), predict measures of pelvic floor health 1 year postpartum.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, we enrolled nulliparas in their third trimester and followed up those delivered vaginally for 1 year. We measured IAP while lifting a weighted car seat (IAPLIFT), IAP during TFE testing (IAPTFE), and TFE duration 5 to 10 weeks postpartum and assessed pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year postpartum.

RESULTS

Mean age of the 624 participants was 28.7 years. At 5 to 10 weeks postpartum, mean (SD) maximal IAPLIFT and IAPTFE were 47.67 (11.13) and 51.57 (12.34) cm H2O, respectively. Median TFE duration was 126 seconds (Interquartile range, 74-211). At 1 year postpartum, 9.3% demonstrated worse support (maximal vaginal descent at or below hymen) and 54% met criteria for symptom burden (bothersome symptoms in ≥2 domains of Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire). In multivariable models, neither IAPLIFT nor IAPTFE were associated with worse support or symptom burden (P = 0.54-1.00). Trunk flexor endurance duration increased prevalence of worse support (prevalence ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.08) per 60-second increase, P = 0.005) but not symptom burden (prevalence ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.03; P = 0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide some reassurance to early postpartum women, who are unlikely to perform routine activities that generate IAP far outside the range tested. Further research is needed to understand why women with long TFE durations have increased prevalence of worse support.

Does pregnancy affect pelvic floor functional anatomy? A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Vaginal childbirth is an established main aetiological factor in the pathogenesis of female pelvic floor dysfunction. However, pregnancy itself is also likely to have an effect. This study investigated the effect of pregnancy on pelvic floor functional anatomy.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective observational study involving vaginally nulliparous women who presented to a tertiary urogynaecology unit with symptoms and signs of pelvic floor dysfunction between 2006 and 2014. Nulliparous women were compared with those who delivered exclusively by Caesarean Section (CS). All had undergone a standardised clinical interview, ICS POP-Q assessment and 3D/4D translabial pelvic floor ultrasound. Main outcome measures included sonographically determined pelvic organ position and hiatal dimensions on Valsalva and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFMC).

RESULTS

Of 2930 women seen during the study period, 242 had never given birth vaginally. One hundred and twenty-nine (53 %) were nulliparous, and 113 (47 %) were delivered by CS only. The CS group demonstrated significantly higher pelvic organ mobility in the anterior compartment (all P < 0.05) and a larger hiatal area on Valsalva (P = 0.004). All sonographic measures of pelvic floor muscle function demonstrated greater tissue displacement on PFMC in the CS group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to nulliparas, women who delivered exclusively by CS showed increased pelvic organ descent on Valsalva and tissue displacement on PFMC, implying increased tissue elasticity/ compliance or reduced stiffness, consistent with a small permanent hormonal and/or mechanical effect of pregnancy.

Pelvic floor dysfunction in the immediate puerperium, and 1 and 3 months after vaginal or cesarean delivery

OBJECTIVE

To identify and assess postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) between vaginal delivery, elective cesarean delivery (ECD), and intrapartum cesarean delivery (ICD).

METHODS

The present prospective observational study included women aged at least 18 years with no history of pelvic surgery or lower urinary tract malformation, and who had not undergone pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training in the preceding 12 months, who underwent delivery at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil between August 1, 2016, and May 31, 2017. Participants were assessed at 48 hours (phase 1), 1 month (phase 2), and 3 months (phase 3) after delivery. Assessments included the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, Short Form (ICIQ-SF); the Jorge-Wexner anal incontinence scale; a self-rated visual analog scale for pelvic pain; the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) system; and a PFM perineometer.

RESULTS

A total of 227 women were assessed in phase 1 (141 vaginal deliveries; 28 ICDs; and 58 ECDs), 79 in phase 2, and 41 in phase 3. The ICIQ-SF, Jorge-Wexner scale, visual analog scale, and perineometer measurements did not identify significant differences in relation to the type of delivery (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The type of delivery was not associated with differences in the short-term development of postpartum PFD.

Obesity and pelvic organ prolapse: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

Studies evaluating the association between obesity and pelvic organ prolapse report estimates that range from negative to positive associations. Heterogeneous definitions for pelvic organ prolapse and variable choices for categorizing obesity measures have made it challenging to conduct meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

We systematically evaluated evidence to provide quantitative summaries of association between degrees of obesity and pelvic organ prolapse, and identify sources of heterogeneity.

STUDY DESIGN

We searched for all indexed publications relevant to pelvic organ prolapse up until June 18, 2015, in PubMed/MEDLINE to identify analytical observational studies published in English that reported risk ratios (relative risk, odds ratio, or hazard ratio) for body mass index categories in relation to pelvic organ prolapse. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted to report associations with pelvic organ prolapse for overweight and obese body mass index categories compared with women in the normal-weight category (referent: body mass index <25 kg/m²).

RESULTS

Of the 70 studies that reported evidence on obesity and pelvic organ prolapse, 22 eligible studies provided effect estimates for meta-analysis of the overweight and obese body mass index categories. Compared with the referent category, women in the overweight and obese categories had meta-analysis risk ratios of at least 1.36 (95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.53) and at least 1.47 (95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.59), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed effect estimates for objectively measured clinically significant pelvic organ prolapse were higher than for self-reported pelvic organ prolapse. Other potential sources of heterogeneity included proportion of postmenopausal women in study and reported study design.

CONCLUSION

Overweight and obese women are more likely to have pelvic organ prolapse compared with women with body mass index in the normal range. The finding that the associations for obesity measures were strongest for objectively measured, clinically significant pelvic organ prolapse further strengthens this evidence. However, prospective investigations evaluating obesity and pelvic organ prolapse are few.

Physical and cultural determinants of postpartum pelvic floor support and symptoms following vaginal delivery: a protocol for a mixed-methods prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), including pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress and urgency urinary incontinence, and faecal incontinence, are common and arise from loss of pelvic support. Although severe disease often does not occur until women become older, pregnancy and childbirth are major risk factors for PFDs, especially POP. We understand little about modifiable factors that impact pelvic floor function recovery after vaginal birth. This National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Program Project, 'Bridging physical and cultural determinants of postpartum pelvic floor support and symptoms following vaginal delivery', uses mixed-methods research to study the influences of intra-abdominal pressure, physical activity, body habitus and muscle fitness on pelvic floor support and symptoms as well as the cultural context in which women experience those changes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Using quantitative methods, we will evaluate whether pelvic floor support and symptoms 1 year after the first vaginal delivery are affected by biologically plausible factors that may impact muscle, nerve and connective tissue healing during recovery (first 8 weeks postpartum) and strengthening (remainder of the first postpartum year). Using qualitative methods, we will examine cultural aspects of perceptions, explanations of changes in pelvic floor support, and actions taken by Mexican-American and Euro-American primipara, emphasising early changes after childbirth. We will summarise project results in a resource toolkit that will enhance opportunities for dialogue between women, their families and providers, and across lay and medical discourses. We anticipate enrolling up to 1530 nulliparous women into the prospective cohort study during the third trimester, following those who deliver vaginally 1 year postpartum. Participants will be drawn from this cohort to meet the project's aims.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare Institutional Review Boards approved this study. Data are stored in a secure password-protected database. Papers summarising the primary results and ancillary analyses will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Vibrating vaginal balls to improve pelvic floor muscle performance in women after childbirth: a protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial

AIM

This paper presents a feasibility trial protocol the purpose of which is to prepare for a future randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of vibrating vaginal pelvic floor training balls for postpartum pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND

Vibrating vaginal pelvic floor training balls are available in Austria to enhance women's pelvic floor muscles and thus prevent or treat urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor problems following childbirth. Nonetheless, there is currently little empirical knowledge to substantiate their use or assess their relative effectiveness in comparison to current standard care, which involves pelvic floor muscle exercises.

DESIGN

Single blind, randomised controlled feasibility trial with two parallel groups.

METHODS

It is planned to recruit 56 postpartum women in Vienna, who will be randomised into one of two intervention groups to use either vibrating vaginal balls or a comparator pelvic floor muscle exercises for 12 weeks. As this is a feasibility study, study design features (recruitment, selection, randomisation, intervention concordance, data collection methods and tools) will be assessed and participants' views and experiences will be surveyed. Tested outcome measures, collected before and after the intervention, will be pelvic floor muscle performance as reported by participants and measured by perineometry. Descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis will serve the preparation of the future trial.

DISCUSSION

The results of this feasibility trial will inform the design and conduct of a full randomised controlled trial and provide insight into the experiences of women regarding the interventions and study participation.

Prevalence of levator ani muscle injury and health-related quality of life in primiparous Chinese women after instrumental delivery

OBJECTIVES

Levator ani muscle (LAM) injury is common after first vaginal delivery, and a higher incidence is associated with instrumental delivery. This study was conducted to compare the incidence of LAM injury after forceps or ventouse extraction in primiparous Chinese women, and to study their subsequent health-related quality of life.

METHODS

This prospective observational study was conducted between 1 September 2011 and 31 May 2012 in a tertiary obstetric unit. All eligible primiparous women who had undergone instrumental delivery were recruited 1 to 3 days following delivery. The subjects completed the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory questionnaire and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, and translabial ultrasound was performed 8 weeks' postpartum to determine whether the subjects had suffered LAM injury.

RESULTS

Among the 289 women who completed the study, 247 (85.5%) had ventouse extraction and 42 (14.5%) had forceps delivery. Subsequent translabial ultrasound identified a total of 58 women with LAM injury. The prevalence of LAM injury after ventouse extraction and forceps delivery was 16.6% (95% CI, 12.0-21.2%) (41/247) and 40.5% (95% CI, 25.6-55.4%) (17/42), respectively (P = 0.001). Forceps delivery was identified as a risk factor for LAM injury, with an odds ratio of 3.54. No statistically significant differences were observed between the quality of life in women who underwent ventouse extraction and those with forceps delivery or between the quality of life in women with a unilateral or bilateral LAM injury.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort of primiparous Chinese women, 20.1% (58/289) had LAM injury after instrumental delivery, and forceps delivery was identified as the only risk factor.

Pelvic floor disorders following vaginal or cesarean delivery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pelvic floor disorders affect women of all ages and are associated with significant economic burden and poor quality of life. Current literature suggests an association between childbirth and these disorders. In this review, we summarize recent advancements in our understanding of this association.

RECENT FINDINGS

Vaginal childbirth appears to be strongly associated with stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. There is less evidence to suggest an association between vaginal delivery and overactive bladder symptoms. History of more than one perineal laceration increases the likelihood of developing prolapse. Similar association has not been established for episiotomy. Disruption or denervation of structural components of pelvic floor support system, particularly levator ani muscle complex, is associated with later development of pelvic floor disorders. Imbalance in homeostasis of connective tissue remodeling of the vaginal wall from overstretching during childbirth is another possible mechanism.

SUMMARY

Pelvic floor disorders represent a significant health problem affecting women of all ages. Identification of potential modifiable risk factors and advancement in understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is crucial for primary and secondary prevention of these disorders and for improvement in treatment strategies.