Prevalence and severity of pelvic floor disorders in pregnant and postpartum women

Objective This multicenter study aimed to evaluate risk factors, prevalence and severity of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) as well as their consequences on women's emotional well-being, using a questionnaire validated specifically for pregnancy and postpartum. Methods Prospective study conducted in eight teaching hospitals in Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland. Pregnant and postpartum women completed the Italian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire for Pregnancy and Postpartum anonymously. Prevalence of, severity of, and risk factors for PFDs were evaluated for all the four domains considered: bladder, bowel, prolapse, and sexual function. Results A total of 2007 women were included: 983 of the patients were bothered by at least one kind of PFD: bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction were more frequently reported. There were no significant differences in PFD prevalence between pregnancy and postpartum, except for bladder disorders, which were more prevalent in pregnancy. Familiarity for PFDs, pelvic floor contraction inability, cigarette smoking, body mass index more than 25 (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters), and age more than 35 years were confirmed risk factors for the development of PFDs during pregnancy and postpartum. Conclusion Almost half of the women included in the study suffered from PFD-related symptoms with important consequences on quality of life. Validated questionnaires are fundamental in early diagnosis and treatment of PFDs.