Avaliação da função da musculatura do assoalho pélvico de primíparas um a três anos após o parto : estudo transversal
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the function, vaginal pressure and
electromyography activity of the pelvic floor muscles between nulliparous and primiparous
after vaginal delivery or cesarean, one to three years after delivery. Cross-sectional study,
conducted at the Women's Health Research Laboratory at Federal University of São Carlos.
Sixty volunteers were included between 18 and 40 years old, sexually active; in the case of
primiparous, have given birth at 37 weeks gestation or more for at least one year and at a
maximum of three years. The procedures included anamnesis, vaginal palpation, perineometry
and surface electromyography of the pelvic floor muscles. To analyze the reproducibility of
digital palpation and perineometry, it was used the intraclass correlation coefficient
calculation and standard error of measurement. Nonparametric variables were analysed using
Kruskal-Wallis test or Mann-Whitney test. One-way ANOVA was used for the parametric
variables. It was adopted a significance level of 5%. No significant difference was found
between groups in relation to the function of the pelvic floor muscles evaluated by digital
palpation (p = 0.75), perineometry (p = 0.25) and surface electromyography (0.465). The
function of the pelvic floor muscles between primiparous from one to three years after
spontaneous vaginal delivery, after cesarean and in nulliparous was similar. The recovery of
pelvic floor muscle function after pregnancy and delivery should be investigated in future
studies.