The objective was to investigate the effects of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on urinary incontinence (UI) and quality of life (QoL) during the late third trimester of pregnancy.
A total of 131 singleton nulliparous women without pre-existing UI who attended the antenatal clinic at Rajavithi Hospital between August 2019 and May 2020 were randomly allocated into PFMT (n=63) or usual care (n=68; controls). The PFMT group watched the video education and was taught to contract the pelvic floor muscle. The control group received standard routine care. Baseline characteristics were recorded. At the gestational age of 36-38 weeks before delivery, UI was evaluated using the Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), and a score of at least 16.7 was used as a cut-off for diagnosing UI. Incontinence-related QoL was evaluated by the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7).
Baseline characteristics between groups were similar. The mean age of women in the PFMT group was 23.7 years versus 24.1 years in the control group. Pre-pregnancy body mass index was 21.1 kg/m2 and 21.3 kg/m2 in the PFMT and control groups respectively. The PFMT group reported fewer UI than the control group (20.6% vs 94.1%, p<0.001). The PFMT group also had a lower UDI-6 score (5.5 vs 27.7, p<0.001) and lower IIQ-7 score (0 vs 14.3, p<0.001) compared with the control group.
From this study, the PFMT program is effective at preventing UI in the late third trimester of pregnancy and improves QoL. Therefore, we encourage PFMT to be implemented in clinical practice.
International urogynecology journal. 2023 Dec 28 [Epub ahead of print]
Pattana Jinapun, Thanawat Sangnucktham
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, 2 Phaya Thai Road, Rachathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, 2 Phaya Thai Road, Rachathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. .