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It seems puzzling why humans have evolved such a small and rigid birth canal that entails a relatively complex process of labor compared with the birth canal of our closest relatives, the great apes. This study reviewed insights into the evolution of the human birth canal from recent theoretical and empirical studies and discussed connections to obstetrics, gynecology, and orthopedics. Originating from the evolution of bipedality and the large human brain million years ago, the evolution of the human birth canal has been characterized by complex trade-off dynamics among multiple biological, environmental, and sociocultural factors. The long-held notion that a wider pelvis has not evolved because it would be disadvantageous for bipedal locomotion has not yet been empirically verified. However, recent clinical and biomechanical studies suggest that a larger birth canal would compromise pelvic floor stability and increase the risk of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Several mammals have neonates that are equally large or even larger than human neonates compared to the size of the maternal birth canal. In these species, the pubic symphysis opens widely to allow successful delivery. Biomechanical and developmental constraints imposed by bipedality have hindered this evolutionary solution in humans and led to the comparatively rigid pelvic girdle in pregnant women. Mathematical models have shown why the evolutionary compromise to these antagonistic selective factors inevitably involves a certain rate of fetopelvic disproportion. In addition, these models predict that cesarean deliveries have disrupted the evolutionary equilibrium and led to new and ongoing evolutionary changes. Different forms of assisted birth have existed since the stone age and have become an integral part of human reproduction. Paradoxically, by buffering selection, they may also have hindered the evolution of a larger birth canal. Many of the biological, environmental, and sociocultural factors that have influenced the evolution of the human birth canal vary globally and are subject to ongoing transitions. These differences may have contributed to the global variation in the form of the birth canal and the difficulty of labor, and they likely continue to change human reproductive anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perineal injury after vaginal delivery is common, affecting up to 90% of women. Perineal trauma is associated with both short- and long-term morbidity, including persistent pain, dyspareunia, pelvic floor disorders, and depression, and may negatively affect a new mother's ability to care for her newborn. The morbidity experienced after perineal injury is dependent on the type of laceration incurred, the technique and materials used for repair, and the skill and knowledge of the birth attendant. After all vaginal deliveries, a systematic evaluation including visual inspection and vaginal, perineal, and rectal exams is recommended to accurately diagnose perineal lacerations. Optimal management of perineal trauma after vaginal birth includes accurate diagnosis, appropriate technique and materials used for repair, providers experienced in perineal laceration repair, and close follow-up. In this article, we review the prevalence, classification, diagnosis, and evidence supporting different closure methods for first- through fourth-degree perineal lacerations and episiotomies. Recommended surgical techniques and materials for different perineal laceration repairs are provided. Finally, best practices for perioperative and postoperative care after advanced perineal trauma are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in treating female sexual dysfunction. A systematic review of databases, including PubMed, Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Embase, BVSalud, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, was performed in July 2021 and updated in May 2023. Full-text articles of randomized controlled trials comparing pelvic floor muscle training with no intervention or another conservative treatment were included. At least 1 arm of these trials aimed to improve women's sexual function or treat sexual dysfunction. The data for this review were extracted and analyzed by 2 independent reviewers. Data on the characteristics of each intervention were extracted using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template. The risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria, respectively. A meta-analysis was conducted considering the posttreatment mean score difference in the Female Sexual Function Index between the control and treatment groups. A total of 21 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template revealed varying quality of the pelvic floor muscle training protocols. Four studies were included in the meta-analysis showing that pelvic floor muscle training improved arousal (1.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.13–2.85), orgasm (1.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.13–2.96), satisfaction (1.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–2.77), pain (0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.11–1.37), and the Female Sexual Function Index overall score (7.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.77–14.57). Very low certainty of evidence due to the data's high clinical and statistical heterogeneity was found according to the GRADE criteria. No side effects of the interventions were reported. This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that pelvic floor muscle training improved female Female Sexual Function Index total score and several subscales; however, the certainty of the evidence is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obstetrical perineal and anal sphincter lacerations can be associated with considerable sequelae. The diagnosis of short-term bowel, bladder, and healing problems can be delayed if patients are not seen until the traditional postpartum visit at 4 to 6 weeks. Specialized peripartum clinics create a unique opportunity to collaborate with obstetrical specialists to provide early, individualized care for patients experiencing a variety of pelvic floor issues during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Although implementation of these clinics requires thoughtful planning and partnering with care providers at all levels in the obstetrics care system, many of the necessary resources are available in routine gynecologic practice. Using a multidisciplinary approach with pelvic floor physical therapists, nurses, advanced practice providers, and other specialists is important for the success of this service line and enhances the level of care provided. Overall, these clinics provide a structured means by which pregnant and postpartum women with pelvic floor symptoms can receive specialized counseling and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelvic floor disorders after childbirth have distressing lifelong consequences for women, requiring more than 300,000 women to have surgery annually. This represents approximately 10% of the 3 million women who give birth vaginally each year. Vaginal birth is the largest modifiable risk factor for prolapse, the pelvic floor disorder most strongly associated with birth, and is an important contributor to stress incontinence. These disorders require 10 times as many operations as anal sphincter injuries. Imaging shows that injuries of the levator ani muscle, perineal body, and membrane occur in up to 19% of primiparous women. During birth, the levator muscle and birth canal tissues must stretch to more than 3 times their original length; it is this overstretching that is responsible for the muscle tear visible on imaging rather than compression or neuropathy. The injury is present in 55% of women with prolapse later in life, with an odds ratio of 7.3, compared with women with normal support. In addition, levator damage can affect other aspects of hiatal closure, such as the perineal body and membrane. These injuries are associated with an enlarged urogenital hiatus, now known as antedate prolapse, and with prolapse surgery failure. Risk factors for levator injury are multifactorial and include forceps delivery, occiput posterior birth, older maternal age, long second stage of labor, and birthweight of >4000 g. Delivery with a vacuum device is associated with reduced levator damage. Other steps that might logically reduce injuries include manual rotation from occiput posterior to occiput anterior, slow gradual delivery, perineal massage or compresses, and early induction of labor, but these require study to document protection. In addition, teaching women to avoid pushing against a contracted levator muscle would likely decrease injury risk by decreasing tension on the vulnerable muscle origin. Providing care for women who have experienced difficult deliveries can be enhanced with early recognition, physical therapy, and attention to recovery. It is only right that women be made aware of these risks during pregnancy. Educating women on the long-term pelvic floor sequelae of childbirth should be performed antenatally so that they can be empowered to make informed decisions about management decisions during labor. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown up to a 40% discordance between patients' preferred roles in decision-making before and their perceived roles after their visit. This can negatively affect patients' experiences; interventions to minimize this discordance may significantly improve patient satisfaction. We aimed to determine whether physicians' awareness of patients' preferred involvement in decision-making before their initial urogynecology visit affects patients' perceived level of involvement after their visit. This randomized controlled trial enrolled adult English-speaking women presenting for their initial visit at an academic urogynecology clinic from June 2022 to September 2022. Before the visit, participants completed the Control Preference Scale to determine the patient's preferred level of decision-making: active, collaborative, or passive. The participants were randomized to either the physician team being aware of their decision-making preference before the visit or usual care. The participants were blinded. After the visit, participants again completed a Control Preference Scale and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement, CollaboRATE, patient satisfaction, and health literacy questionnaires. Fisher exact, logistic regression, and generalized estimating equations were used. Based on a 21% difference in preferred and perceived discordance, we calculated the sample size to be 50 patients in each arm to achieve 80% power. Women (n=100) with a mean age of 52.9 years (standard deviation=15.8) participated in the study. Most participants identified as White (73%) and non-Hispanic (70%). Before the visit, most women preferred an active role (61%) and few preferred a passive role (7%). There was no significant difference between the 2 cohorts in the discordance between their pre- and post-Control Preference Scale responses (27% vs 37%; P =.39) or whether their symptoms were much better or very much better following the visit (18% vs 37%; P =.06). However, when asked whether they were completely satisfied with the visit, those assigned to the physician awareness cohort reported higher satisfaction than those in the treatment as usual cohort (100% vs 90%; P =.03). Although there was no significant decrease in discordance between the patient's desired and perceived level of decision-making following physician awareness, it had a significant effect on patient satisfaction. All patients whose physicians were aware of their preferences reported complete satisfaction with their visit. Although patient-centered care does not always entail meeting all of the patients' expectations, the mere understanding of their preferences in decision-making can lead to complete patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with myofascial pelvic floor dysfunction often present with lower urinary tract symptoms, such as urinary frequency, urgency, and bladder pressure. Often confused with other lower urinary tract disorders, this constellation of symptoms, recently termed myofascial urinary frequency syndrome, is distinct from other lower urinary tract symptoms and optimally responds to pelvic floor physical therapy. A detailed pelvic floor myofascial examination performed by a skilled provider is currently the only method to identify myofascial urinary frequency syndrome. Despite a high influence on quality of life, low awareness of this condition combined with no objective diagnostic testing leads to the frequent misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of myofascial urinary frequency syndrome. This study aimed to develop a screening measure to identify patients with myofascial urinary frequency syndrome (bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to myofascial pelvic floor dysfunction) from patient-reported symptoms. A population of patients with isolated myofascial urinary frequency syndrome was identified by provider diagnosis from a tertiary urology practice and verified by standardized pelvic floor myofascial examination and perineal surface pelvic floor electromyography. Least Angle Shrinkage and Selection Operator was used to identify candidate features from the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire, Female Genitourinary Pain Index, and Pelvic Floor Distress Index predictive of myofascial urinary frequency syndrome in a pooled population also containing subjects with overactive bladder (n=42), interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (n=51), and asymptomatic controls (n=54) (derivation cohort). A simple, summated score of the most discriminatory questions using the original scaling of the Pelvic Floor Distress Index 5 (0–4) and Genitourinary Pain Index 5 (0–5) and modified scaling of Female Genitourinary Pain Index 2b (0–3) had an area under the curve of 0.75. As myofascial urinary frequency syndrome was more prevalent in younger subjects, the inclusion of an age penalty (3 points added if under the age of 50 years) improved the area under the curve to 0.8. This score was defined as the Persistency Index (possible score of 0–15). The Youden Index was used to identify the optimal cut point Persistency Index score for maximizing sensitivity and specificity. Using a development cohort of 215 subjects, the severity (Pelvic Floor Distress Index 5) and persistent nature (Female Genitourinary Pain Index 5) of the sensation of incomplete bladder emptying and dyspareunia (Female Genitourinary Pain Index 2b) were the most discriminatory characteristics of the myofascial urinary frequency syndrome group, which were combined with age to create the Persistency Index. The Persistency Index performed well in a validation cohort of 719 patients with various lower urinary tract symptoms, including overactive bladder (n=285), interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (n=53), myofascial urinary frequency syndrome (n=111), controls (n=209), and unknown diagnoses (n=61), exhibiting an area under the curve of 0.74. A Persistency Index score ≥7 accurately identified patients with myofascial urinary frequency syndrome from an unselected population of individuals with lower urinary tract symptoms with 80% sensitivity and 61% specificity. A combination of the Persistency Index with the previously defined Bladder Pain Composite Index and Urge Incontinence Composite Index separated a population of women seeking care for lower urinary tract symptoms into groups consistent with overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, and myofascial urinary frequency syndrome phenotypes with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 82%. Our study recommends a novel screening method for patients presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms to identify patients with myofascial urinary frequency syndrome. As telemedicine becomes more common, this index provides a way of screening for myofascial urinary frequency syndrome and initiating pelvic floor physical therapy even before a confirmatory pelvic examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause and the decline in systemic estrogen are associated with the development of pelvic floor disorders, such as prolapse, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms. Past evidence suggests that postmenopausal women with symptomatic prolapse gain benefit from the preoperative application of intravaginal estrogen, but it is unknown whether they would experience improvement in other pelvic floor symptoms when treated with intravaginal estrogen. This study aimed to determine the effects of intravaginal estrogen (compared with placebo) on stress and urgency urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, sexual function and dyspareunia, and vaginal atrophy symptoms and signs in postmenopausal women with symptomatic prolapse. This was a planned ancillary analysis of a randomized, double-blind trial, "Investigation to Minimize Prolapse Recurrence Of the Vagina using Estrogen," which included participants with ≥stage 2 apical and/or anterior prolapse scheduled for transvaginal native tissue apical repair at 3 US sites. The intervention was 1 g conjugated estrogen intravaginal cream (0.625 mg/g) or identical placebo (1:1), inserted nightly for 2 weeks and then twice weekly for ≥5 weeks total before surgery and continued twice weekly for 1 year postoperatively. For this analysis, question responses were compared from participants' baseline and preoperative visits: lower urinary tract symptoms (Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 Questionnaire); sexual health questions, including dyspareunia (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire—IUGA-Revised); and atrophy-related symptoms (dryness, soreness, dyspareunia, discharge, and itching; each scored 1–4, 4 being quite a bit bothersome). Masked examiners assessed vaginal color, dryness, and petechiae (each scored 1–3, total range 3–9, with 9 being the most estrogenized appearing). Data were analyzed by intent to treat and "per protocol" (ie, those adherent with ≥50% of expected intravaginal cream use, per objective tube before and after weights). Of 199 participants randomized (mean age of 65 years) and contributing baseline data, 191 had preoperative data. The characteristics were similar between groups. Total Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 Questionnaire scores showed minimal change during this median time of 7 weeks between baseline and preoperative visits, but for those with at least moderately bothersome baseline stress urinary incontinence (32 in the estrogen group and 21 in the placebo group), 16 (50%) in the estrogen group and 9 (43%) in the placebo group showed improvement (P =.78). In addition, 43% of participants in the estrogen group and 31% of participants in the placebo group showed improvement in urgency urinary incontinence (P =.41), and 41% of participants in the estrogen group and 26% of participants in the placebo group showed improvement in urinary frequency (P =.18). There was minimal change in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire—IUGA-Revised scores among sexually active women; dyspareunia rates did not differ between intravaginal estrogen and placebo at the preoperative assessment: 42% and 48%, respectively (P =.49). The maximum score for most bothersome atrophy symptom (among those with baseline symptoms and adherent to study cream) improved slightly more with intravaginal estrogen (adjusted mean difference, −0.33 points; 95% confidence interval, −0.98 to 0.31), but this was not statistically significant (P =.19). However, on examination, among adherent participants, objective signs of atrophy were more improved with intravaginal estrogen treatment (+1.54 vs +0.69; mean difference, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.05–1.65; P =.01). Despite objective changes in the vaginal epithelium consistent with increased estrogenization among drug-adherent participants, the results were inconclusive regarding whether 7 weeks of preoperative intravaginal estrogen cream in postmenopausal women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse was associated with improved urinary function, sexual function, dyspareunia symptoms, and other symptoms commonly attributed to atrophy. Additional study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the long-term severity and subjective impact of anal incontinence in women after 1 or 2 consecutive obstetrical anal sphincter injuries is still scarce and contradictory. This study aimed to describe the severity and impact of anal incontinence among women with 2 previous deliveries 2 decades after birth and to analyze the relative effect of 1 vs 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries in comparison with no obstetrical anal sphincter injuries and the possible influence of obstetrical anal sphincter injury on other pelvic floor disorders. We linked prospectively registered data in the Swedish Medical Birth Register with information from a postal and web-based questionnaire in 2015. Statistics Sweden identified women with 2 vaginal births from 1992 to 1998, and a simple random sample of 11,000 women was drawn from a source cohort of 64,687 women. To achieve equal-sized groups of women with 1 or 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries, the latter group was oversampled from 1987 to 2000. The final study cohorts consisted of 6760 women with no obstetrical anal sphincter injury, 357 women with 1 injury, and 324 women with 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries. Third- and fourth-degree perineal tears were grouped together for analysis. Anal incontinence was defined as either fecal or isolated gas incontinence, and fecal incontinence was defined as involuntary leakage of solid or liquid stool with or without concomitant gas. Frequencies of leakage of stool and gas were dichotomized into low frequency (less than once a month) and high frequency (several times a month or more often). Pairwise comparisons were analyzed using Fisher exact tests, Mantel-Haenszel statistics, and the Mann-Whitney U test. Trends were analyzed using Mantel-Haenszel statistics and the Spearman rank correlation test. Logistic regression models were used to obtain the age- and body-mass-index -adjusted odds ratios for outcomes. Statistical significance was set at P <.05. The response rate was 65.5% in the randomly selected cohort and 70.1% among women with 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries. Bothersome fecal incontinence occurred in 3.3% (212/6458) of women without obstetrical anal sphincter injury, in 10.4% (36/345) (adjusted odds ratio, 3.25; 95% confidence interval, 2.23–4.73) of those with 1 injury, and in 16.5% (52/315) (adjusted odds ratio, 5.16; 95% confidence interval, 3.69–7.22) of those with 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries (trend P <.0001). Fecal incontinence was perceived as bothersome in 28.2% (212/753) of women without an obstetrical anal sphincter injury compared with in 43.9% (36/82) and 46.0% (52/113) of those with 1 or 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries (trend P <.0001). Leakage of liquid stool occurred in 10.8% (724/6717) of those without injury, in 21.7% (77/355) of women with 1 injury, and 34.9% (113/324) of women with 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries (trend P <.0001). Incontinence affecting daily life was reported by 8.6% (577/6672) of women without injury and by 19.7% (69/351) and 29.6% (96/324) of women with 1 and 2 sphincter injuries, respectively (trend P <.0001). The mean Jorge-Wexner score was 2.44, 3.26, and 3.88 for women with no, 1, or 2 sphincter injuries (trend P <.0001). Among women with a Jorge-Wexner score of 6, >50% had bothersome anal incontinence. The adjusted odds ratio for the overall effect of 1 vs 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries on measures of anal incontinence was 2.19 (95% confidence interval, 1.68–2.85) and 3.91 (95% confidence interval, 3.06–5.00), respectively, when compared with no obstetrical anal sphincter injury (both P <.0001). Having 1 or 2 obstetrical anal sphincter injuries had no significant effect on other pelvic floor disorders or on lower urinary tract symptoms (P =.73 and P =.69). A consistent additive effect of 1 or 2 sphincter injuries on the severity and impact of anal incontinence was observed in women 2 decades after 2 vaginal births. This information is important for healthcare economics, clinical practice, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal incontinence is a prevalent debilitating pelvic floor disorder characterized by the involuntary loss of stool. Fecal incontinence is known to be associated with constipation and loose stool, advancing age, chronic comorbidities, and previous anorectal trauma, among other biologic risk factors. The relationship between social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, and fecal incontinence is not well elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the association between fecal incontinence and food insecurity using a nationally representative sample of US adult women. Our secondary aim was to examine the role of diet by assessing dietary differences between participants with and without fecal incontinence and between food-insecure women with and without fecal incontinence. This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative series of cross-sectional health surveys. Fecal incontinence was defined as accidental leakage of stool within the last 30 days. Food insecurity was assessed using the household food security measure created by the US Department of Agriculture. Dietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dietary interviews titled " Individual Foods, First Day " and " Individual Foods, Second Day ," which estimate the foods and drinks consumed in the preceding 24 hours, were pooled. The association between fecal incontinence and food insecurity was analyzed using logistic regression after controlling for patient characteristics. Overall, 3216 women were included, representing nearly 130 million US women. Of these women, 10.9% had fecal incontinence. There was no significant difference in diet between women with and without fecal incontinence (p >0.05). Food-insecure women in the overall sample reported higher carbohydrate and sugar intake and lower fiber and alcohol intake (all P <.05). Among food-insecure women, those with fecal incontinence had higher calorie and total fats intake than those without fecal incontinence; there was no significant difference in other dietary components (p >0.05). There was a significant association between food insecurity and fecal incontinence, such that women with food insecurity had higher odds of fecal incontinence after adjusting for patient characteristics and diet (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.66; P =.008). Food insecurity was associated with fecal incontinence even after accounting for diet. Understanding the role of social determinants of health in fecal incontinence symptomatology and treatment is important to potentially alleviate symptom burden and improve the quality of life in at-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term effects of vaginal delivery, parity, and pregnancy on the pelvic floor remain uncertain and controversial issues. In comparison with studies using self-reported symptoms, surgical register data may offer a more valid means for evaluating the relative influence of these risk factors. This study used data from 3 high-quality nationwide registers, namely the Swedish National Quality Register of Gynecological Surgery, the Swedish Medical Birth Register, and the Total Population Register, to evaluate the contribution of vaginal and cesarean delivery, parity, and factors not related to childbirth to the long-term risk for reconstructive urogenital surgery. This was a register-based linkage study among women aged ≥45 years who underwent urinary incontinence or prolapse surgery from 2010 to 2017. This surgical cohort was divided into nulliparous women, women with ≥1 cesarean deliveries only, those with ≥1 vaginal deliveries, and according to the number of births. A corresponding reference group was constructed based on women born in 1960 from the Total Population Register (n=2,309,765). The Swedish Medical Birth Register was used to determine the rate of women with cesarean and vaginal delivery and their respective parity. Absolute and relative risk were presented per 1000 women with 95% confidence intervals. Pairwise differences were analyzed with Fisher exact tests and the Mann-Whitney U test for dichotomous and continuous variables. The trend between ≥3 ordered categories of dichotomous variables was analyzed with Mantel-Haenszel statistics. A total of 39,617 women underwent prolapse surgery and 20,488 underwent incontinence surgery. Among women with prolapse surgery, 97.8% had ≥1 vaginal delivery, 0.4% had ≥1 cesarean delivery only, and 1.9% were nullipara. Corresponding figures for those with incontinence surgery were 93.1%, 2.6%, and 4.3%, respectively. Women with vaginal deliveries were overrepresented in the prolapse surgery (relative risk, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–1.24; P <.001) and incontinence surgery groups (relative risk, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–1.19; P <.001). Nulliparous and cesarean delivered women were underrepresented in the prolapse surgery (relative risk, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.13–0.15 and relative risk 0.055; 95% confidence interval, 0.046–0.065; all P <.001) and incontinence surgery groups (relative risk, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.29–0.33 and relative risk, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.36–0.43). The absolute risk for prolapse surgery was lowest after cesarean delivery (0.09 per 1000 women; 95% confidence interval, 0.08–0.11) and differed by a factor of 23 (absolute risk, 2.11 per 1000 women; 95% confidence interval, 2.09–2.13) from that after vaginal birth. The absolute risk for prolapse and incontinence surgery increased consistently with parity after vaginal births. This trend was not observed after cesarean delivery, which is on par with that of nulliparous women. The first vaginal birth contributed the highest increase in the absolute risk for pelvic organ prolapse surgery (6-fold) and stress urinary incontinence surgery (3-fold). The second vaginal birth contributed the lowest increase in the absolute risk for pelvic organ prolapse surgery (∼1/3 of the first vaginal birth) and for stress urinary incontinence surgery (∼1/10 of the first vaginal birth). Surgery for urinary incontinence and prolapse was almost exclusively related to vaginal parity. The risk for prolapse surgery increased consistently with parity after vaginal births but not after cesarean delivery, whereas the risk associated with cesarean delivery was on par with that of nulliparous women. Thus, cesarean delivery seems to offer protection from the need for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence surgery later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the strong association between vaginal childbirth and pelvic floor dysfunction, genetic factors, pregnancy, advancing age, and lifestyle also play a role. The pelvic floor undergoes substantial changes during pregnancy, which may contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction. Conversely, these changes may be favorable for vaginal delivery. However, there is a lack of studies assessing pelvic floor symptoms over time according to delivery mode and including predelivery assessment.Objective: This study aimed to describe urinary incontinence, vaginal symptoms, and bowel control symptoms from 21 weeks of gestation in the first pregnancy up to 8 years after the first delivery, stratified by delivery mode.Study Design: This was a longitudinal observational cohort study. A total of 300 nulliparous women were recruited during their first pregnancy. Pelvic floor symptoms were assessed at 21 and 37 weeks of gestation, and at 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 8 years after first delivery using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire modules: the urinary incontinence sum score, the weighted vaginal symptom sum score, the vaginal-associated quality of life score, the bowel control sum score, and the bowel-associated quality of life sum score. Delivery mode at first delivery defined delivery groups as: normal vaginal, operative vaginal, and cesarean delivery. A linear mixed-model analysis was used to assess symptom scores over time and differences in symptom scores between the delivery groups.Results: Of the 300 women included in the study, 193 attended the 8-year follow-up. Pelvic floor symptoms differed between women who had vaginal delivery and those who had cesarean delivery. The symptom scores showed a nonlinear statistically significant trend. In women who delivered vaginally, there was an increase of urinary incontinence and vaginal symptom scores already during pregnancy. In women who later delivered by cesarean, there was a decrease of symptom scores during pregnancy, and overall lower symptom scores relative to women who had vaginal delivery at 12 months after the first delivery. Pelvic floor symptom scores increased from 12 months to 8 years after the first delivery and exceeded pregnancy levels in all delivery groups; however, overall symptom scores were low. Differences between delivery groups were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Pelvic floor symptoms differed between women who had vaginal delivery and those who had cesarean delivery from the first pregnancy up to 8 years after the first delivery. These differences were already recognizable before the first delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence of detachment of the levator ani muscle system is seen more frequently in patients with pelvic floor disorders. It has been suggested that passive descent of the fetus before pushing could be used to decrease operative vaginal delivery and levator ani muscle injury.Objective: This planned analysis aimed to determine whether immediate or delayed pushing was associated with an increased proportion of injury to the levator ani muscle system after the first delivery among nulliparous women.Study Design: The Optimizing Management of the Second Stage study was a multicenter randomized trial. Nulliparous women with term pregnancies and neuraxial analgesia were randomly assigned at complete cervical dilation to either immediate pushing or delayed pushing for 1 hour. A subset of participants consented to longitudinal objective pelvic floor assessments: (1) during postpartum stay (initial), (2) at 6 weeks (postpartum 1), and (3) at 6 months (postpartum 2) with transperineal 3-dimensional ultrasound. Following the completion of all visits by all subjects, saved 3-dimensional ultrasound volumes were assessed in a masked fashion. The outcome was "occult" levator ani muscle injury on the right or left, defined as a widening of the attachment of the levator ani to its origin utilizing the levator-urethra gap measurement. Measurements and proportions were compared between the 2 groups by study visit using the χ2 test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables and the t test or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables as appropriate.Results: Here, 941 of 2414 randomized subjects (39.0%) participated in the pelvic floor assessments: 452 in the immediate pushing group and 489 in the delayed pushing group. We obtained sonograms on 67%, 83%, and 77% of the pelvic floor assessment participants at the initial, postpartum 1, and postpartum-2 visits, respectively. Demographic and labor characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups; 94% of participants were non-Hispanic, and 50% of participants were Black. Levator ani muscle injury was noted in 77 participants (13.6%) at the initial visit, 99 (13.1%) at PP1, and 72 (10.6%) at PP2. There was no difference in injury between women in the immediate pushing group and women in the delayed pushing group. These findings did not change when the threshold (sensitivity) of levator ani muscle injury was adjusted to a less conservative measure.Conclusion: Among nulliparous women at term with neuraxial analgesia, the rates of occult levator ani muscle injury were not different between women undergoing immediate pushing and women undergoing delayed pushing in the second stage of labor. Further research efforts are needed to understand the development and potential prevention of subsequent pelvic floor disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of hospital and surgeon volumes on outcomes following urogynecologic surgery. Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study of women who underwent urogynecologic procedures between 1998 and 2003 from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Hospitals and surgeons were categorized as low, medium, or high volume based on average number of cases per year. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, complications, and nonroutine discharges. Multivariable analyses were performed using generalized estimation equations to estimate relative risks. Results: There were 310,759 women and 2986 hospitals. Women who had procedures at low- volume hospitals were 2.75 (95% Cl 2.33-3.16) times more likely to die and 1.63 (95% Cl 1.44-1.83) times more likely to have a nonroutine discharge, compared to those at high-volume hospitals. Women who had procedures by low-volume surgeons were also more likely to suffer complications and have nonroutine discharges compared to those with high-volume surgeons. Conclusion: Differences in hospital and surgeon volumes of urogynecologic procedures may contribute to variations in mortality and morbidity risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of age on the risk of in-hospital mortality and morbidity following urogynecologic surgery and to compare risks associated with obliterative versus reconstructive procedures for prolapse in elderly women. Study design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from 1998 to 2002 from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to obtain odds ratios estimating the effect of age on risk of death and complications, adjusting for comorbidities and demographic factors. Results: There were 264,340 women in our study population. Increasing age was associated with higher mortality risks per 1000 women (<60 years, 0.1; 60–69 years, 0.5; 70–79 years, 0.9; ≥80 years, 2.8; P < .01) and higher complication risks per 1000 women (<60 years, 140; 60–69 years, 130; 70–79 years, 160; ≥80 years, 200; P < .01). Using multivariable logistic regression, increasing age was associated with an increased risk of death (60–69 years, odds ratio [OR] 3.4 [95% CI 1.7–6.9]; 70–79 years, OR 4.9 [95% CI 2.2–10.9]; ≥80 years, OR 13.6 [95% CI 5.9–31.4]), compared with women <60 years. The risk of peri-operative complications was also higher in elderly women 80 years of age and older (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.3–1.5]) compared with younger women. Elderly women 80 years and over who underwent obliterative procedures had a lower risk of complication compared with those who underwent reconstructive procedures for prolapse (17.0% vs 24.7%, P < .01). Conclusion: Although the absolute risk of death is low, elderly women have a higher risk of mortality and morbidity following urogynecologic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Müllerian agenesis, or Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, occurs in 1 in 4500 to 5000 individuals assigned female sex at birth. Pelvic floor symptoms among individuals with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome have not been well studied, and it is unknown how vaginal lengthening treatments affect these symptoms.Objective: This study aimed to assess urinary, prolapse, and bowel symptoms in individuals with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome and to determine whether symptoms vary by vaginal lengthening treatment.Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2019 using an online survey distributed by the Beautiful You MRKH Foundation via social media to individuals with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. Demographics, age at and timing of diagnosis, information about vaginal lengthening treatment, urinary symptoms (Michigan Incontinence Symptom Index), prolapse symptoms (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory short-form version), and bowel symptoms (Bristol Stool Form Scale) were obtained. The inclusion criteria included self-reported diagnosis of müllerian agenesis and female sex. Respondents with a history of renal transplant or dialysis, completion of <85% of the survey, and non-English survey responses were excluded. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the sample population. Logistic regression, Kruskal-Wallis, and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms and vaginal lengthening treatments. Associations between age and genitourinary symptoms were investigated with Spearman correlations.Results: Of 808 respondents, 615 met the inclusion criteria, representing 40 countries. 81% of respondents identified as white. The median age of the participants was 29 years (interquartile range, 24-36), with a median age at diagnosis of 16 years (interquartile range, 15-17). Among the 614 respondents, 331 (54%) had vaginal lengthening treatment, 130 of whom (39%) had undergone surgical vaginal lengthening. Of individuals with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, 428 of 614 (70%) reported having had one or more urinary symptoms, and 339 of 428 (79%) reported being bothered by these symptoms. Urinary symptoms included urinary incontinence (210 of 614 [34%]), urinary frequency (245 of 614 [40%]), urinary urgency (248 of 614 [40%]), pain with urination (97 of 614 [16%]), and recurrent urinary tract infections (177 of 614 [29%]). Prolapse symptoms included lower abdominal pressure (248 of 612 [41%]), pelvic heaviness or dullness (177 of 610 [29%]), and vaginal bulge (68 of 609 [11%]). In addition, constipation was reported by 153 of 611 respondents (25%), and anal incontinence was reported by 153 of 608 (25%) respondents. Beside recent urinary incontinence (P=.003) and anal incontinence (P<.001), the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms (P>.05) did not differ significantly between those with and without vaginal lengthening. Among those with surgical vaginal lengthening, symptomatic vaginal bulge was highest in individuals who underwent a bowel vaginoplasty procedure.Conclusion: Urinary, prolapse, and bowel symptoms are common among individuals with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome and should be evaluated in this population. Overall, compared with no vaginal lengthening treatment, having vaginal lengthening treatment is not associated with substantial differences in the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms, with the exception of recent urinary incontinence and anal incontinence. Our data suggested that bowel vaginoplasty may be associated with greater symptoms of vaginal bulge. More robust studies are needed to determine the impact of various vaginal lengthening treatments on pelvic floor symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ineffective healthcare delivery and expenditures associated with the traditional fee for service in-person models have turned attention toward alternative payment models as a means of enhancing healthcare quality in the United States. Bundled care payment models are a form of alternate payment models that provide a single reimbursement for all services rendered for an episode of care and have been developed extensively in primary care settings with limited literature in urogynecology. We describe the process used to create a bundled care payment model for women seeking care in a subspecialty clinic for pelvic floor disorders in partnership with our safety net insurer. The process included estimation of prior average spend, the design of an integrated practice unit, creation of pelvic floor pathways, approximation of utilization rates, and estimation of reimbursement and expenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Institutes of Health funding for reproductive sciences research, specifically in academic departments of obstetrics and gynecology, is disproportionately low. Research is one of the most important pillars in advancing healthcare. Despite US Congress' vision in providing increased funding to the National Institutes of Health as a whole, underfunding for research in the departments of obstetrics and gynecology remains one of the several critical drivers in the decline in reproductive health and healthcare for women in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum recovery from pelvic floor trauma associated with vaginal delivery may be impaired by the transient hypoestrogenic state associated with breastfeeding.Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the association between exclusive breastfeeding and pelvic floor disorders 1-2 decades after the first vaginal delivery. We hypothesize that compared with women who did not breastfeed following vaginal delivery, women who breastfeed would have a higher proportion of pelvic floor disorders s, and those women who practiced sustained exclusive/unsupplemented breastfeeding would have the highest proportion.Study Design: This is a secondary analysis of the Mothers' Outcomes After Delivery study, a prospective cohort study of pelvic floor disorders after childbirth. Participants were recruited 5-10 years after their first delivery and followed up annually for up to 9 years. This analysis focused on participants who experienced at least 1 vaginal delivery. Each participant completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding breastfeeding. Based on questionnaire responses, breastfeeding status was classified into 3 ordinal categories: unexposed (did not breastfeed or breastfed <1 week); limited exclusive breastfeeding (breastfed without supplementation for ≥1 week but <12 weeks); and sustained exclusive breastfeeding (unsupplemented breastfeeding ≥12 weeks). Our primary outcomes of interest were the proportions of stress urinary incontinence, anal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse. The outcomes of interest were defined using the Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification Examination at enrollment and annually for up to 9 years thereafter. Additionally, a subanalysis examined the relationship between breastfeeding and anal incontinence in an obstetric anal sphincter injury-specific population. Generalized estimating equations were utilized to determine the relationship between breastfeeding and the outcomes of interest.Results: Among 705 women, 189 (27%) were classified as unexposed, 145 (20%) were categorized as limited exclusive breastfeeding, and the remaining 371 women (53%) met our definition of sustained exclusive breastfeeding. Median follow-up was 5 years, contributing to a total of 3079 person years. The proportion of each pelvic floor disorder, based on 3079 person-years of follow-up was: stress urinary incontinence (27%), pelvic organ prolapse (20%), or anal incontinence (25%). Using generalized estimating equations adjusting for race, education, parity, and body mass index, sustained exclusive breastfeeding was not significantly associated with stress urinary incontinence (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82, 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.23), pelvic organ prolapse (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78, 95% confidence interval, 0.49-1.26), and anal incontinence (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67, 95% confidence interval, 0.44-1.00). Regarding our obstetric anal sphincter injury subanalysis, 123 women within our cohort experienced obstetric anal sphincter injuries at delivery. Anal incontinence was reported in 32% of these women. However, there was no observed relationship between breastfeeding and the development of anal incontinence during study follow-up in this population.Conclusion: Breastfeeding after vaginal childbirth was not associated with the development of stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, or anal incontinence 1-2 decades after the first vaginal delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pelvic floor myofascial pain, which is predominantly identified in the muscles of the levator ani and obturator internus, has been observed in women with chronic pelvic pain and other pelvic floor disorder symptoms, and is hypothesized to contribute to their symptoms.Objectives: To describe the prevalence of pelvic floor myofascial pain in patients presenting with pelvic floor disorder symptoms and to investigate whether severity of pelvic floor myofascial pain on examination correlates with degree of pelvic floor disorder symptom bother.Study Design: All new patients seen at 1 tertiary referral center between 2014 and 2016 were included in this retrospectively assembled cross-sectional study. Pelvic floor myofascial pain was determined by transvaginal palpation of the bilateral obturator internus and levator ani muscles and scored as a discrete number on an 11-point verbal pain rating scale (range, 0-10) at each site. Scores were categorized as none (0), mild (1-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7-10) for each site. Pelvic floor disorder symptom bother was assessed by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory short form scores. The correlation between these 2 measures was calculated using Spearman rank and partial rank correlation coefficients.Results: A total of 912 new patients were evaluated. After exclusion of 79 with an acute urinary tract infection, 833 patients were included in the final analysis. Pelvic floor myofascial pain (pain rated >0 in any muscle group) was identified in 85.0% of patients: 50.4% rated as severe, 25.0% moderate, and 9.6% mild. In unadjusted analyses and those adjusted for postmenopausal status, severity of pelvic floor myofascial pain was significantly correlated with subjective prolapse symptoms such as pelvic pressure and heaviness but not with objective prolapse symptoms (seeing or feeling a vaginal bulge or having to push up on a bulge to start or complete urination) or leading edge. Severity of myofascial pain at several individual pelvic floor sites was also independently correlated with lower urinary tract symptoms, including pain in the lower abdomen (myofascial pain at all sites) and difficulty emptying the bladder (right obturator internus and left levator ani); and with defecatory dysfunction, including sensation of incomplete rectal emptying (pain at all sites combined and the right obturator internus), anal incontinence to flatus (pain at all sites combined), and pain with defecation (pain at all sites combined, and the right obturator internus and left levator ani).Conclusion: Pelvic floor myofascial pain was common in patients seeking evaluation for pelvic floor disorder symptoms. Location and severity of pelvic floor myofascial pain was significantly correlated with degree of symptom bother, even after controlling for postmenopausal status. Given the high prevalence of pelvic floor myofascial pain in these patients and correlation between pain severity and degree of symptom bother, a routine assessment for pelvic floor myofascial pain should be considered for all patients presenting for evaluation of pelvic floor symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about short- and long-term pain and functional activity after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse.Objective: The objectives of the study were to describe postoperative pain and functional activity after transvaginal native tissue reconstructive surgery with apical suspension and retropubic synthetic midurethral sling and to compare these outcomes between patients receiving 2 common transvaginal prolapse repairs, uterosacral ligament, and sacrospinous ligament vaginal vault suspension.Study Design: This planned secondary analysis of a 2 × 2 factorial randomized trial included 374 women randomized to receive uterosacral (n = 188) or sacrospinous (n = 186) vaginal vault suspension to treat both stages 2-4 apical vaginal prolapse and stress urinary incontinence between 2008 and 2013 at 9 medical centers. Participants were also randomized to receive perioperative pelvic muscle therapy or usual care. All patients received transvaginal native tissue repairs and a midurethral sling. Participants completed the Surgical Pain Scales (0-10 numeric rating scales; higher scores = greater pain) and Activity Assessment Scale (0-100; higher score = higher activity) prior to surgery and at 2 weeks, 4-6 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. The MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey was completed at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery; the bodily pain, physical functioning, and role-physical subscales were used for this analysis (higher scores = less disability). Self-reported pain medication use was also collected.Results: Before surgery, average pain at rest and during normal activity were (adjusted mean ± SE) 2.24 ± 0.23 and 2.76 ± 0.25; both increased slightly from baseline at 2 weeks (+0.65, P = .004, and +0.74, P = .007, respectively) and then decreased below baseline at 3 months (-0.87 and -1.14, respectively, P < .001), with no differences between surgical groups. Pain during exercise/strenuous activity and worst pain decreased below baseline levels at 4-6 weeks (-1.26, P = .014, and -0.95, P = .002) and 3 months (-1.97 and -1.50, P < .001) without differences between surgical groups. Functional activity as measured by the Activity Assessment Scale improved from baseline at 4-6 weeks (+9.24, P < .001) and 3 months (+13.79, P < .001). The MOS 36-item Short-Form Health Survey Bodily Pain, Physical Functioning, and Role-Physical Scales demonstrated significant improvements from baseline at 6, 12, and 24 months (24 months: +5.62, +5.79, and +4.72, respectively, P < .001 for each) with no differences between groups. Use of narcotic pain medications was reported by 14.3% of participants prior to surgery and 53.7% at 2 and 26.1% at 4-6 weeks postoperatively; thereafter use was similar to baseline rates until 24 months when it decreased to 6.8%. Use of nonnarcotic pain medication was reported by 48.1% of participants prior to surgery, 68.7% at 2 weeks, and similar to baseline at 3 months; thereafter use dropped steadily to 26.6% at 2 years. Uterosacral ligament suspension resulted in less new or worsening buttock pain than sacrospinous suspension at 4-6 weeks postoperatively (4.6% vs 10.5%, P = .043) but no difference in groin or thigh pain.Conclusion: Pain and functional activity improve for up to 2 years after native tissue reconstructive surgery with uterosacral or sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension and midurethral sling for stages 2-4 pelvic organ prolapse. On average, immediate postoperative pain is low and improves to below baseline levels by 4-6 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Utility preference scores are standardized, generic, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures that quantify disease severity and burden and summarize morbidity on a scale from 0 (death) to 1 (optimal health). Utility scores are widely used to measure HRQOL and in cost-effectiveness research.Objective: To determine the responsiveness, validity properties, and minimal important difference (MID) of utility scores, as measured by the Short Form 6D (SF-6D) and EuroQol (EQ-5D), in women undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).Materials and Methods: This study combined data from 4 large, U.S., multicenter surgical trials enrolling 1321 women with pelvic organ prolapse. We collected condition-specific quality of life data using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ). A subset of women completed the SF6D; women in 2 trials also completed the EQ5D. Mean utility scores were compared from baseline to 12 months after surgery. Responsiveness was assessed using effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM). Validity properties were assessed by (1) comparing changes in utility scores at 12 months between surgical successes and failures as defined in each study, and (2) correlating changes in utility scores with changes in the PFDI and PFIQ. MID was estimated using both anchor-based (SF-36 general health global rating scale "somewhat better" vs "no change") and distribution-based methods.Results: The mean SF-6D score improved 0.050, from 0.705 ± 0.126 at baseline to 0.761 ± 0.131 at 12 months (P < .01). The mean EQ-5D score improved 0.060, from 0.810 ± 0.15 at baseline to 0.868 ± 0.15 at 12 months (P < .01). The ES (0.13-0.61) and SRM (0.13-0.57) were in the small-to-moderate range, demonstrating the responsiveness of the SF-6D and EQ-5D similar to other conditions. SF-6D and EQ-5D scores improved more for prolapse reconstructive surgical successes than for failures. The SF-6D and EQ-5D scores correlated with each other (r = 0.41; n = 645) and with condition-specific instruments. Correlations with the PFDI and PFIQ and their prolapse subscales were in the low to moderate range (r = 0.09-0.38), similar to other studies. Using the anchor-based method, the MID was 0.026 for SF-6D and 0.025 for EQ-5D, within the range of MIDs reported in other populations and for other conditions. These findings were supported by distribution-based estimates.Conclusion: The SF-6D and EQ-5D have good validity properties and are responsive, preference-based, utility and general HRQOL measures for women undergoing surgical treatment for prolapse. The MIDs for SF-6D and EQ-5D are similar and within the range found for other medical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement defines an adverse event as an unintended physical injury resulting from or contributed to by medical care that requires additional monitoring, treatment, or hospitalization or that results in death. The majority of research has focused on adverse events from the provider's perspective.Objective: The objective of this qualitative study was to describe patient perceptions on adverse events following surgery for pelvic floor disorders.Study Design: Women representing the following 3 separate surgical populations participated in focus groups: (1) preoperative (women <12 weeks prior to surgery); (2) short-term postoperative (women up to 12 weeks after surgery); and (3) long-term postoperative (women 1-5 years after surgery). Deidentified transcripts of audio recordings were coded and analyzed with NVivo 10 software to identify themes, concepts, and adverse events. Women were asked to rank patient-identified and surgeon-identified adverse events in order of perceived severity.Results: Eighty-one women participated in 12 focus groups. Group demographics were similar between groups, and all groups shared similar perspectives regarding surgical expectations. Women commonly reported an unclear understanding of their surgery and categorized adverse events such as incontinence, constipation, nocturia, and lack of improvement in sexual function as very severe, ranking these comparably with intensive care unit admissions or other major surgical complications. Women also expressed a sense of personal failure and shame if symptoms recurred.Conclusion: Women consider functional outcomes such as incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and recurrence of symptoms as severe adverse events and rate them as similar in severity to intensive care unit admissions and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition that frequently coexists with urinary and fecal incontinence. The impact of prolapse on quality of life is typically measured through condition-specific quality-of-life instruments. Utility preference scores are a standardized generic health-related quality-of-life measure that summarizes morbidity on a scale from 0 (death) to 1 (optimum health). Utility preference scores quantify disease severity and burden and are widely used in cost-effectiveness research. The validity of utility preference instruments in women with pelvic organ prolapse has not been established.Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the construct validity of generic quality-of-life instruments for measuring utility scores in women with pelvic organ prolapse. Our hypothesis was that women with multiple pelvic floor disorders would have worse (lower) utility scores than women with pelvic organ prolapse only and that women with all 3 pelvic floor disorders would have the worst (lowest) utility scores.Study Design: This was a prospective observational study of 286 women with pelvic floor disorders from a referral female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery practice. All women completed the following general health-related quality-of-life questionnaires: Health Utilities Index Mark 3, EuroQol, and Short Form 6D, as well as a visual analog scale. Pelvic floor symptom severity and condition-specific quality of life were measured using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire, respectively. We measured the relationship between utility scores and condition-specific quality-of-life scores and compared utility scores among 4 groups of women: (1) pelvic organ prolapse only, (2) pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, (3) pelvic organ prolapse and urgency urinary incontinence, and (4) pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence.Results: Of 286 women enrolled, 191 (67%) had pelvic organ prolapse; mean age was 59 years and 73% were Caucasian. Among women with prolapse, 30 (16%) also had stress urinary incontinence, 39 (20%) had urgency urinary incontinence, and 42 (22%) had fecal incontinence. For the Health Utilities Index Mark 3, EuroQol, and Short Form 6D, the pattern in utility scores was noted to be lowest (worst) in the prolapse + urinary incontinence + fecal incontinence group (0.73-0.76), followed by the prolapse + urgency urinary incontinence group (0.77-0.85) and utility scores were the highest (best) for the prolapse only group (0.80-0.86). Utility scores from all generic instruments except the visual analog scale were significantly correlated with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire total scores (r values -0.26 to -0.57), and prolapse, bladder, and bowel subscales (r values -0.16 to -0.50). Utility scores from all instruments except the visual analog scale were highly correlated with each other (r = 0.53-0.69, P < .0001).Conclusion: The Health Utilities Index Mark 3, EuroQol, and Short Form 6D, but not the visual analog scale, provide valid measurements for utility scores in women with pelvic organ prolapse and associated pelvic floor disorders and could potentially be used for cost-effectiveness research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informed consent is a process that necessitates time and effort. Underlying this investment is the belief that informing patients about the surgery promotes patient satisfaction with the decision for surgery and potentially satisfaction more broadly.Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the extent to which preoperative satisfaction with a decision to pursue surgery is associated with understanding after an informed consent discussion.Study Design: We performed an observational study of adult women seeking surgical treatment for pelvic floor disorders. Study participants were recruited after routine preoperative counseling by board-certified or board-eligible urogynecologists. In our practice, the preoperative informed consent process typically includes a discussion of the indications, risks, benefits, alternatives, and chance of success of the procedures. Participants completed a 35 question survey preoperatively at one setting. The primary outcome, satisfaction with decision, was measured with a validated 6 item Satisfaction with Decision Scale-Pelvic Floor Disorder. Participants were classified as highly satisfied if they indicated the highest level of satisfaction for all items. The primary exposure was patient knowledge of the planned surgery, measured using a newly adapted 20 item Informed Consent Questionnaire including 15 yes/no questions and 5 free-text questions. Additionally, the survey included a validated 3 item tool for health literacy, a single-item anxiety measure, and demographic data. Analyses were performed with a χ2 test, a Student t test, and a multivariable logistic regression using the binary outcome variable, highly satisfied or not highly satisfied.Results: A total of 150 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 57.5 years. The majority were non-Hispanic (97.3%) or white (87.3%), with at least some college education (51.0%). The median number of days between the informed consent discussion and the survey was 35. The mean total Satisfaction with Decision score was 27.9 (SD, 2.6; range, 19-30), indicating overall high satisfaction with the decision. A patient's preoperative satisfaction with her decision was strongly associated with increased knowledge of the planned surgery, as measured on the Informed Consent Questionnaire (P = .003). The mean score for the highly satisfied group was 17.8 (n = 70; SD, 3.6; range, 6-20) and for the not highly satisfied group was 16.1 (n = 77; SD, 2.8; range, 9-20). There were no significant differences between the highly satisfied and not highly satisfied groups with respect to age, race, education level, anxiety score, or health literacy. The odds of being highly satisfied increased for every 1 point increase in the Informed Consent Questionnaire score (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.32; P = .003). The association between decisional satisfaction and knowledge persisted after controlling for demographic and clinical variables including education level, health literacy, race/ethnicity, age, surgeon years since completing fellowship, diagnosis, surgery category, number of visits in the past 6 months, and number of days between informed consent discussion and survey.Conclusion: This study found that patient knowledge and understanding of surgery are important components of a patient's satisfaction with her decision to proceed with pelvic floor surgery. By measuring patient understanding after informed consent discussions, clinicians may be able to better manage preoperative expectations, increase patient satisfaction, and improve the informed consent process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pelvic floor muscles are subject to considerable stretching during vaginal birth. In 13-36% of women, stretching results in avulsion injury whereby the puborectalis muscle disconnects from its insertion points on the pubis bone. Until now, few studies have investigated the effect of this lesion on pelvic floor muscles in the early postpartum period.Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare pelvic floor muscle morphometry and function in primiparous women with and without puborectalis avulsion in the early postpartum period. Our secondary objective was to compare the 2 groups for pelvic floor disorders and impact on quality of life.Study Design: In all, 52 primiparous women diagnosed with (n = 22) or without (n = 30) puborectalis avulsion injury were assessed at 3 months postpartum. Pelvic floor muscle morphometry was evaluated with 3-/4-dimensional transperineal ultrasound at rest, maximal contraction, and Valsalva maneuver. Different parameters were measured in the midsagittal and axial planes: bladder neck position, levator plate angle, anorectal angle, and levator hiatus dimensions. The dynamometric speculum was used to assess pelvic floor muscle function including: passive properties (passive forces and stiffness) during dynamic stretches, maximal strength, speed of contraction, and endurance. Pelvic floor disorder-related symptoms (eg, urinary incontinence, vaginal and bowel symptoms) and impact on quality of life were evaluated with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-Short Form. Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification was also assessed.Results: In comparison to women without avulsion, women with avulsion presented an enlarged hiatus area at rest, maximal contraction, and Valsalva maneuver (P ≤ .013) and all other ultrasound parameters were found to be significantly altered during maximal contraction (P ≤ .014). They showed lower passive forces at maximal and 20-mm vaginal apertures as well as lower stiffness at 20-mm aperture (P ≤ .048). Significantly lower strength, speed of contraction, and endurance were also found in women with avulsion (P ≤ .005). They also presented more urinary incontinence symptoms (P = .040) whereas vaginal and bowel symptoms were found to be similar in the 2 groups. Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification revealed greater anterior compartment descent in women with avulsion (P ≤ .010). The impact of pelvic floor disorders on quality of life was found to be significantly higher in women with avulsion (P = .038).Conclusion: This study confirms that pelvic floor muscle morphometry and function are impaired in primiparous women with puborectalis avulsion in the early postpartum period. Moreover, it highlights specific muscle parameters that are altered such as passive properties, strength, speed of contraction, and endurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse can have a negative impact on a woman's overall functioning. When choosing between surgery or pessary, many women have information needs about long-term expectations. Whereas it has been shown that both surgery and pessary can improve prolapse symptoms, there is less information comparing comprehensive functioning outcomes and goal attainment between the 2 treatments.Objective: Our primary objective was to compare patient-reported goal attainment and comprehensive physical, social, and emotional functioning outcomes after surgery vs pessary for symptomatic prolapse.Study Design: We conducted a prospective, observational, cohort study including women choosing surgery or pessary for symptomatic stage 2 or greater prolapse. Women undergoing any modality of prolapse surgery or those anticipating using a pessary long-term to avoid surgery were eligible. Women completed questionnaires at baseline (before treatment) and up to 12 months after treatment including the following: (1) pretreatment goals and actual posttreatment goals achieved; (2) 5 functioning outcomes encompassing physical, social, and emotional function using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System surveys; and (3) validated symptom and quality-of-life questionnaires. Treatment goals were categorized into symptom goals (prolapse, urinary, bowel, pain) and function goals (physical, social, emotional, sexual). Goals achieved were compared using a χ2 test. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with not achieving all pretreatment goals. Mean improvements in functioning scores were compared within groups and between groups using paired and independent Student t tests. Assuming 80% of women would achieve complete goal attainment in the surgery group, 64 women per group would be needed to detect a 20% difference at an alpha of 0.05. We recruited 80 women per group to account for dropout.Results: A total of 160 women were enrolled and 72 surgical (90%) (mean follow-up 12 months) and 64 pessary patients (80%) (mean follow up 8 months) had posttreatment data. Fourteen discontinued pessary use and 8 ultimately crossed over to surgery. At follow-up, a higher proportion of women in the surgery arm reported successfully achieving symptom goals and function goals compared with women who chose pessary (P < .05). Women who continued pessary use had comparable goal attainment with women in the surgery group for almost all goal categories, whereas women who discontinued the pessary or crossed over to surgery had significantly lower goal attainment compared with both the surgery and pessary continuation groups. On multiple logistic regression, only college education or higher was associated with an increased odds of not achieving all pretreatment goals (odds ratio, 2.70, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-6.6, P = .03). Regarding functioning outcomes, within groups, there were statistically significant improvements between pre- and posttreatment Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System functioning scores in all 5 domains for the surgery group and 4 of 5 domains in the pessary group (P < .05). When comparing between groups, women who had surgery reported significantly greater improvements in the physical function, social roles, and depression domains compared with the pessary group (P < .05).Conclusion: Women undergoing either surgery or pessary for symptomatic prolapse experience goal attainment and improvements in physical, social, and emotional functioning, although surgery is associated with greater improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate baseline knowledge and demographic factors associated with a lack of knowledge about urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Study Design: This study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey of 431 racially and socioeconomically diverse women aged 19-98 years. The Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess participants' knowledge. Primary endpoints were the total number of correct responses on the UI and POP scales, respectively. Percentages of individuals answering each item or group of items correctly were explored as secondary outcomes. Results: All women lacked knowledge proficiency about UI and POP, although knowledge about UI was slightly greater than knowledge about POP. Overall, 71.2% of subjects lacked UI proficiency (<80% correct), whereas 48.1% lacked proficiency in POP knowledge (<50% correct). Black women demonstrated significantly less knowledge about UI and POP than white women, both before and after adjustment for age, education, and household income. When combined into 1 group, Asian, Hispanic, and other women also showed significantly less UI and POP knowledge than white women. Most women who reported symptoms of UI had not received treatment for their problems. Conclusion: There is a global lack of knowledge about UI and POP among community-dwelling women, with more pronounced knowledge gaps among nonwhite women. UI and POP are chronic medical conditions that should be included in routine screening questions for well-woman care. Further studies are needed to explore how best to educate and improve women's awareness of these prevalent pelvic floor disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: We sought to estimate the number of women who will undergo inpatient and outpatient surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in the United States from 2010 through 2050. Study Design: Using the 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample and the 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery, we calculated the rates for inpatient and outpatient SUI and POP surgery. We applied the surgery rates to the US Census Bureau population projections from 2010 through 2050. Results: The total number of women who will undergo SUI surgery will increase 47.2% from 210,700 in 2010 to 310,050 in 2050. Similarly, the total number of women who will have surgery for prolapse will increase from 166,000 in 2010 to 245,970 in 2050. Conclusion: If the surgery rates for pelvic floor disorders remain unchanged, the number of surgeries for urinary incontinence and POP will increase substantially over the next 40 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the construct validity of 3 multiattribute health status classification system instruments, and a visual analog scale (VAS) for measuring utility scores for women with fecal incontinence (FI). Study Design: Utility scores were measured in 200 women with 1 or more of the following diagnoses: fecal or urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic floor symptom severity was measured using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), and quality of life was assessed with the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7). Construct and concurrent validity were evaluated. Results: After adjusting for age, comorbidities, urinary incontinence, and prolapse, utility scores were significantly lower for women with FI than women without FI for all health status instruments but not the VAS. All health status instruments had significant correlations with PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores. Conclusion: The health status instruments provide valid utility scores in women with FI and would be useful in clinical trials and cost-effectiveness research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the number of women undergoing ambulatory surgical procedures for female pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) in the United States and to compare age-adjusted ambulatory surgical case rates between 1996 and 2006. Study Design: We analyzed data from the 1996 and 2006 National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery, a federal public access deidentified database. Procedures for PFDs were identified using International Classification of Diseases-9th revision Clinical Modification procedure codes for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse. Results: The number of women undergoing ambulatory surgical procedures for urinary incontinence increased from 34,968 (95% confidence interval, 25,583–44,353) in 1996 to 105,656 (95% confidence interval, 79,033–132,279) in 2006. The age-adjusted ambulatory surgical case rates for all PFDs increased from 7.91 per 10,000 in 1996 to 12.10 per 10,000 in 2006 (P = .0006). Conclusion: Ambulatory procedures for urinary incontinence increased between 1996 and 2006, as well as the age-adjusted ambulatory case rate for all PFDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: We sought to evaluate trends in costs of ambulatory care related to female pelvic floor disorders (PFD) in the United States. Study Design: We used the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for national estimates of ambulatory visits in the United States. PFD-related visits were based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Visits were assigned an Evaluation and Management code, and costs were estimated using national average Medicare allowances for physician services. We converted costs to 2006 dollars using the physicians'' services component of the Consumer Price Index and compared the average annual costs between 1996–1997 and 2005–2006. Results: The average annual cost of ambulatory physician services related to PFDs was $190 million in 1996–1997 and $298 million in 2005–2006 (P = .05). Adjusting for deductibles and copayments, these estimates increased to $262 million in 1996–1997 and $412 million in 2005–2006. Conclusion: The cost of ambulatory care related to female PFDs is significant and is increasing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare patient-reported outcomes after combined surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) between older and younger women. Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study including 122 younger (<65 years) and 70 older women (≥65 years old) who underwent combined POP and SUI surgery. SUI and POP treatment failure were based on validated measures. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval [CI]. Results: Mean follow-up was 10 ± 1.2 months. Women in both age groups reported significant improvement in symptoms and life impact postoperatively. In multivariable analyses, older women had an increased odds of SUI treatment failure (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05–2.5), but not POP treatment failure (AOR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.29–2.8). Conclusion: Women 65 years and older undergoing combined surgery for POP and SUI are at risk for recurrent SUI, but still experience significant improvements in symptoms and life impact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]