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. 2016 Aug;27(8):1193-200.
doi: 10.1007/s00192-016-2959-y. Epub 2016 Feb 13.

Perineal body stretch during labor does not predict perineal laceration, postpartum incontinence, or postpartum sexual function: a cohort study

Kate V Meriwether  1   2 , Rebecca G Rogers  3 , Gena C Dunivan  3 , Jill K Alldredge  3 , Clifford Qualls  4 , Laura Migliaccio  3 , Lawrence Leeman  3   5
Affiliations

Perineal body stretch during labor does not predict perineal laceration, postpartum incontinence, or postpartum sexual function: a cohort study

Kate V Meriwether et al. Int Urogynecol J. 2016 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis: The perineum stretches naturally during obstetrical labor, but it is unknown whether this stretch has a negative impact on pelvic floor outcomes after a vaginal birth (VB). We aimed to evaluate whether perineal stretch was associated with postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, and we hypothesized that greater perineal stretch would correlate with worsened outcomes.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of primiparous women who had a VB. Perineal body (PB) length was measured antepartum, during labor, and 6 months postpartum. We determined the maximum PB (PBmax) measurements during the second stage of labor and PB change (ΔPB) between time points. Women completed functional questionnaires and had a Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system exam 6 months postpartum. We analyzed the relationship of PB measurements to perineal lacerations and postpartum outcomes, including urinary, anal, and fecal incontinence, sexual activity and function, and POP-Q measurements.

Results: Four hundred and forty-eight women with VB and a mean age of 24 ± 5.0 years with rare (5 %) third- or fourth-degree lacerations were assessed. During the second stage of labor, 270/448 (60 %) had perineal measurements. Mean antepartum PB length was 3.7 ± 0.8 cm, with a maximum mean PB length (PBmax) during the second stage of 6.1 ± 1.5 cm, an increase of 65 %. The change in PB length (ΔPB) from antepartum to 6 months postpartum was a net decrease (-0.39 ± 1.02 cm). PB change and PBmax were not associated with perineal lacerations or outcomes postpartum (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions: PB stretch during labor is unrelated to perineal laceration, postpartum incontinence, sexual activity, or sexual function.

Keywords: Incontinence; Labor; Perineal body; Postpartum; Prolapse; Sexual function.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Populations of interest in the study cohort
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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