You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

Levator ani function before and after childbirth

  1. Ursula M. Peschers Assistant Lecturer 1,*,
  2. Gabriel N. Schaer Senior Lecturer 2,
  3. John O. L. DeLancey Associate Professor 3,
  4. Bernhard Schuessler Professor 1

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12057.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 104, Issue 9, pages 1004–1008, September 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

Peschers, U. M., Schaer, G. N., DeLancey, J. O. L. and Schuessler, B. (1997), Levator ani function before and after childbirth. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 104: 1004–1008. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12057.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KantonsspitalLuzern, Switzerland

  2. 2

    University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

  3. 3

    The University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, USA

*Correspondence: Dr U. M. Peschers, I. Frauenklinik der Universität, Maistraße 11, 80337 Münchcn, Germany.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005
  3. Received 25 September 1996 Returnedfor revision 21 November 1996 and 1 April 1997 Accepted 27 May 1997

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (448K)

Objective To evaluate pelvic floor muscle strength before and after vaginal birth.

Design Prospective repeated measures study.

Setting Main district hospital.

Population Fifty-five women: 25 primiparae and 20 multiparae following vaginal birth, and 10 women following elective caesarean delivery as a control group.

Methods Pelvic muscle strength was evaluated by palpation, perineometry and perineal ultrasound before childbirth in the 36th to 42nd week of pregnancy, three to eight days postpartum and six to ten weeks postpartum.

Main outcome measures Pelvic floor muscle strength on palpation, intravaginal squeeze pressure and vesical neck elevation during squeeze.

Results Pelvic floor muscle strength is significantly reduced three to eight days postpartum in women following vaginal birth but not in women after caesarean delivery. Six to ten weeks later palpation and vesical neck elevation on perineal ultrasound do not show any significant differences to antepartum values, while intravaginal pressure on perineometry remains significantly lower in primiparae, but not in multiparae.

Conclusions Pelvic floor muscle strength is impaired shortly after vaginal birth, but for most women returns within two months.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (448K)