Female Sexual Dysfunction and Pelvic Floor Muscle Function Associated with Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Only a few studies have addressed sexual health in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study aimed to compare female sexual function and pelvic floor muscle function in SSc patients with healthy controls (HC) matched by age, and to identify the potential implications of clinical features on sexual function. Our cohort included 90 women with SSc and 90 HC aged 18–70 years that completed six well-established and validated questionnaires assessing sexual function (Brief Index of Sexual Function for Women, Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire–Female, Sexual Function Questionnaire) and pelvic floor function (Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire–Short Form 7 and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire Short Form). Results from women with SSc and HC were contrasted and correlated with relevant clinical features. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 73% in SSc patients (vs. 31% in HC). Women with SSc reported significantly worse pelvic floor function and sexual function than HC. Impaired sexual function was correlated with higher disease activity, the presence of dyspnea and interstitial lung disease, increased systemic inflammation, reduced physical activity, functional disability, more severe depression, more pronounced fatigue, and impaired quality of life. We demonstrate that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among women with SSc. This aspect of the disease deserves more attention both in clinical care and at the level of international research collaboration.

Low-frequency Electrical Stimulation Combined with Preventative Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Knowledge-attitude-practice Model in Women with Urinary Retention after a Pelvic Surgery

This study was to explore the efficacy of low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) combined with preventative pelvic floor muscle exercises (PPFME) and knowledge-attitude-practice model (KAP model) in women with urinary retention (UR) after a pelvic surgery and the effect on quality of life (QOL). The clinical data of 153 women hospitalized with UR after a pelvic surgery from January 2015 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the Control Group (CG, n=45, LFES+PPFME) and the Study Group (SG, n=108, LFES+PPFME+KAP model) according to the different treatment methods. Following indicators were compared between the two groups: clinical efficacy, time to first urination, urine output, rate of extubation in 3D, rate of repeated intubation, urodynamic indicators before and after treatment, postvoid residual (PVR), bladder compliance (BC), maximal flow rate (Q-max), pressure of detrusor at Pdet-Q-max (Pdet-Q-max), changes in QOL, incidence of urinary tract infection, and length of stay (LOS). Compared to CG, SG showed higher overall response rate (ORR) and rate of extubation in 3D, shorter time to first urination, higher urine output, lower rate of repeated intubation and incidence of urinary tract infection, and shorter LOS (P<0.05); both groups achieved improvements in urodynamic indicators and QOL score after treatment (P<0.05); the urodynamic indicators and QOL score in SG were better than the CG’s (P<0.05). LFES combined with PPFME and KAP model is effective in treating women with UR after a pelvic surgery by efficaciously improving patients’ urination and QOL.

COL1A1 GENE POLYMORPHISM IN MATERNITY PATIENTS WITH SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

The aim of the paper is to determine the impact of COL1A1 gene polymorphism on soft tissue injuries in maternity patients. Materials and Methods. The study involved 62 maternity patients who were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 45 patients (72.5 %) without type 1 collagen mutation, alpha 1 Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) G/G. The second group consisted of 16 patients (27.5 %) with mutation in COL1A1 gene, Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) G/T. During the study, a homozygous mutation, Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) T/T was observed in one patient. Age, parity and mean fetal weight of women were comparable. Results. In patients with the COL1A1 mutation, Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T), the incidence of soft tissue birth injuries was 2.3 times higher than in those without such a mutation. Thus, it was confirmed that COL1A1 gene mutation contributes to the soft tissue trauma of the birth canal. It can be regarded as a prognostic criterion and as a basis for preventive measures during pregnancy. Conclusion. Birth trauma risks remain a controversial issue. One of the factors may be COL1A1 gene mutation. Key words: birth trauma, pelvic floor muscle insufficiency, collagen 1 gene polymorphism (COL1A1). Цель работы – определить роль полиморфизма гена COL1A1 у женщин с родовыми травмами мягких тканей родовых путей. Материалы и методы. В исследовании приняло участие 62 родильницы, которые были разделены на 2 группы. В первую группу включены 45 (72,5 %) родильниц, у которых мутация коллагена типа 1, альфа 1 Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) G/G не обнаружена. Во второй группе, состоящей из 16 (27,5 %) родильниц, обнаружена мутация гена COL1A1 Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) G/T. В процессе проведения исследования у одной пациентки обнаружена гомозиготная мутация Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) T/T. Пациентки были сопоставимы по возрасту, паритету и средней массе плода. Результаты. У пациенток с мутацией COL1A1 Sp1-polymorphism (G2046T) частота родовых травм мягких тканей оказалась в 2,3 раза выше, чем у пациенток без мутации. Таким образом, подтверждено, что мутация данного гена имеет определенное значение в реализации риска травм мягких тканей родовых путей, что может послужить прогностическим критерием и основанием для проведения профилактических мероприятий в период беременности. Выводы. Вопрос о рисках родового травматизма остается спорным. Одним их факторов может явиться мутация гена COL1A1. Ключевые слова: родовой травматизм, недостаточность мышц тазового дна, полиморфизм гена коллагена 1 (COL1A1).

Pelvic Floor Myofascial Pain Might Influence Treatment Outcome of Interstitial Cystitis/bladder Pain Syndrome

IntroductionIn patients with interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), 85% were found to have pelvic floor myofascial pain (PFMP) and hypertonicity (PFH). However, they are not typically trained to consider or assess PFMP as a contributing factor to patients’ IC/BPS symptoms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between PFMP and treatment outcomes in women with IC/BPS.MethodsPatients with IC/BPS who received any type of treatment were prospectively enrolled. They underwent vaginal digital examination at baseline. PFMP severity was quantified on the visual analog scale (VAS). Subject assessment items included O’Leary-Sant symptom score (OSS), Global Response Assessment (GRA), and Beck’s anxiety inventory. Object assessment items included bladder computed tomography (CT), urodynamic parameters, maximum bladder capacity, and grade of glomerulation.ResultsA total of 65 women with IC/BPS (mean age, 57.1 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients with more severe PFMP had significantly higher rate of dyspareunia (p = .031); more comorbidities (p = .010); higher number of PFMP sites (p < .001); and higher OSS (p = .012). PFMP severity was not significantly correlated with bladder conditions, whether subjective or objective. Moreover, PFMP severity (VAS) was significantly negatively associated with GRA score.ConclusionPFMP might affect the subjective results of IC/BPS treatment but not the bladder condition. Therefore, in the future treatment of patients with IC/BPS, digital vaginal examinations of pelvic floor muscles should be performed and focused more on the PFM-related conditions, and necessary PFM treatments, such as the vaginal pelvic floor muscle message, should be scheduled.

Pelvic floor muscle exercise and training for coping with urinary incontinence

The pelvic floor consists of levator ani muscles including puborectalis, pubococcygeus and iliococcygeus muscles, and coccygeus muscles. Pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME) is defined as exercise to improve pelvic floor muscle strength, power, endurance, relaxation, or a combination of these parameters. PFME strengthens the pelvic floor muscles to provide urethral support to prevent urine leakage and suppress urgency. This exercise has been recommended for urinary incontinence since first described by Kegel. When treating urinary incontinence, particularly stress urinary incontinence, PFME has been recommended as first-line treatment. This article provides clinical application of PFME as a behavioral therapy for urinary incontinence. Clinicians and physical therapist should understand pelvic floor muscle anatomy, evaluation, regimen, and instruct patients how to train the muscles properly.

How to Predict Outcomes from a Biofeedback and Pelvic Floor Muscle Electric Stimulation Program in Patients with Urinary Incontinence after Radical Prostatectomy

Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the pre-operative and intra-operative variables that can condition urinary incontinence (UI) after radical prostatectomy (RP), as well as continence rate recovery during a pelvic floor rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 cases with UI after RP were prospectively examined. All cases were homogeneously treated by the same surgeon, using the same RP technique. A combination of biofeedback (BF) and pelvic floor electric stimulation (PFES) performed by the same clinician and using the same protocol was used. Clinical, pathologic and surgical variables were analyzed in terms of 24 h pad test results (pad weight and pad-free status). Results: Prostate volume (PV) strongly varied from 24 to 127 cc (mean ± SD 46.39 ± 18.65 cc), and the baseline pad weight varied from 10 to 1500 cc (mean ± SD 354.29 ± 404.15 cc). PV strongly and positively correlated with the baseline pad weight (r = 0.4215; p = 0.0269) and inversely with the three-month pad weight (r = − 0.4763; p = 0.0213) and pad-free status (r =− 0.3010; p = 0.0429). The risk of a residual pad weight >10 g after the rehabilitative program significantly increased according to PV (p = 0.001) and the baseline pad weight (p = 0.002 and < 0.0001). In particular, PV > 40 cc and a baseline pad weight >400 g significantly (p = 0.010 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and independently predicted a 5.7 and a 35.4 times increase in the risk of a residual pad weight at the three-month follow-up, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first prospective trial whose primary objective is to verify the possible predictors, such as PV, that are able to condition the response to a pelvic floor rehabilitation program for UI after RP.

Antenatal pelvic floor muscle training and urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled 7-year follow-up study

Introduction and hypothesis Urinary incontinence is common postpartum. Our aims were to assess whether antenatal exercise including pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has long-term effects on urinary incontinence (UI) and to explore factors associated with UI 7 years postpartum. Methods A follow-up of a two-centre randomized controlled trial performed at St. Olavs Hospital and Stavanger University Hospital, Norway. In the original trial women were randomized to a 12-week structured exercise protocol including PFMT or standard antenatal care during pregnancy. Link to an electronic questionnaire was sent by postal mail 7 years postpartum. Prevalence of UI was assessed with Sandvik severity index and compared between groups. Factors associated with UI were studied using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results The response rate was 35% (298/855). UI was reported by 78 (51%) in the intervention group and 63 (57%) in the control group (p = 0.539). In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, women with UI at inclusion had a five-fold increase in odds of UI at 7 years (OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.6, 11.5). Engaging in regular exercise was not significantly associated with UI at 7 years; however, UI was associated with lower exercise intensity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2, 4.6). Conclusions We found no group differences of antenatal exercise including PFMT on UI after 7 years among the responders. UI in pregnancy increased the risk of long-term UI. Regular exercise was not associated with UI at 7 years; however, women with UI were more than twice as likely to exercise at lower intensity than continent women.