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Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In our study, patients who had a second delivery were categorised into the following 4 groups. Pelvic floor ultrasound data were compared during the 6th week after the second delivery. The incidence of cystoceles was highest in group A and lowest in group D. In addition, groups A and B had a higher rate of rectoceles or perineum descent. Similarly, the areas of the levator hiatus were higher in Groups A and B during Valsalva manoeuvres. The area of the levator hiatus from the resting state to the Valsalva manoeuvre effect had the greatest change in Group A. A comparison of the PR thickening rates among the four groups did not reveal significant differences. All second delivery methods can cause varying degrees of pelvic organ prolapse and decreased pelvic floor function; however, vaginal delivery as the second delivery mode may have a more significant effect in Chinese women. What is already known on this subject? Different modes of delivery have significantly different effects on female pelvic floor function. Pregnancy beyond 35 weeks of gestation has an effect on female pelvic floor function, irrespective of the mode of delivery. What do the results of this study add? This study analysed the impact of different delivery modes on Chinese female pelvic floor function. Parous women who underwent different modes of second delivery all demonstrated different degrees of pelvic organ prolapse, as well as pelvic floor function decline. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our study will provide basic research of Chinese female pelvic floor function after a second delivery, which will be of clinical significance around the world, as well as in China. China will keep promoting further delivery as the aging population is increasing. If the developing countries want to promote the second delivery around the women, they have basic research and data to instruct the females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and pelvic floor function of cervical cancer (CC) patients after treatment. Design: This was a cross-sectional observational cohort study. Participants: The participants included in this study were CC patients who underwent radical hysterectomy (RH) from 2012 to 2018 at 18 medical centers across China. Methods: The validated versions of the Pelvic floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, and Euro Qol Five-Dimension questionnaires were used to evaluate postoperative pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and QoL. Results: A total of 689 CC patients were enrolled. The incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), incomplete urinary emptying, and constipation were 32.7, 27.7, and 28.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that laparoscopic RH (LRH) and vaginal wall resection greater than 3 cm were risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). LRH and chemotherapy were risk factors for SUI. Chemoradiotherapy and LRH were risk factors for overactive bladder (OAB). A high body mass index and LRH were risk factors for more severe defecation symptoms. ARH and large amount of operative blood loss were risk factors for poor QoL. Conclusion: PFD is common in CC patients after treatment. LRH seems to increase the postoperative distress, including LUTS and defecation symptoms. Postoperative urinary incontinence and OAB are more bothersome for patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We recommend evaluating pelvic floor function as a standard assessment during follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and perineal massage during late pregnancy on postpartum pelvic floor function in nulliparas., Design: Randomised controlled trial., Setting: The Peking University First Hospital, a teaching hospital in China., Participants: Two-hundred nulliparas were included., Interventions: Nulliparas were randomised into four groups in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Group A, control; group B, perineal massage; group C, pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT); group D, perineal massage and PFMT. The intervention group received the corresponding intervention from 34 weeks of gestation until delivery., Measurements: Changes in pelvic floor function from 34 weeks of gestation to 6 weeks postpartum were assessed using pelvic floor electromyography (EMG), pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POP-Q), and pelvic floor distress inventory-20 (PFDI-20)., Results: Those with PFMT (groups C and D) had a smaller decline in pelvic floor EMG of fibre II than those without PFMT (groups A and B) [- 0.2 (- 7.1, 11.3) µV vs 6.1 (- 0.2, 15.2) µV, P = 0.040]. The same scenario was observed in the pelvic floor EMG of fibre I. The Aa point measurement differences of those with PFMT (groups C and D) were smaller than those without PFMT (groups A and B) [0.0 (0.0, 2.0) cm vs 1.0 (0.0, 3.0) cm, P = 0.006]. The same result was observed for point Ba. No difference was observed in EMG and POP-Q in nulliparas with (groups B and D) or without perineal massage (groups A and C). No differences were observed in PFDI-20 scores., Key Conclusions: PFMT during late pregnancy enhanced pelvic floor EMG, while perineal massage alone or PFMT combined with perineal massage did not., Implications for Practice: PFMT in late pregnancy enhances pelvic floor function., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors have a conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)