Analysis of pelvic floor muscle strength during pregnancy

• Grant number: 12/12749-3
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2012 - September 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Obstetrical Nursing
• Principal researcher: Adriana Caroci Becker
• Grantee: Adriana Caroci Becker
• Home Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Maria Luiza Gonzalez Riesco

Abstract

Pregnancy can exert influence on the musculature of the pelvic floor and lead to temporary or morbidity in the genitourinary tract. Objectives: 1. To analyze the Perineal Muscle Strength (PMS) of women who had one or more vaginal deliveries, according to age, number of previous vaginal deliveries, perineal conditions, symptoms of genito-urinary and body mass index and the average of the PMS; 2. Compare primigravidae and women who had one or more vaginal deliveries. Methods: An observational cross-sectional assessment of the PMS by perineometry and digital vaginal palpation during pregnancy. The population is women in the first trimester of pregnancy who are undergoing prenatal care in a Primary Health Consultation Unit in the city of Itapecerica da Serra, Sao Paulo. The sample will include 110 pregnant women who had one or more vaginal deliveries. Data collection will take place from October 2012 to March 2013. For comparison, it will be adopted an historical control group, comprising 110 primigravidae studied in the same location as the present research. It will be conducted a descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, with the threshold p-value for statistical significance being p<0.05. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities of the Universidade de São Paulo. (AU)